DIAMONDS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2458, 2 January 1871, Page 2

DIAMONDS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Most of our readers have heard of the diamond mines in Southern Africa, although they may have felt comparatively little interest in the matter. The stories of great finds of valuable precious stones sounded so much like one of the adventures of Sinbad the Sailor that the few details we have had have been read with a smile of incredulity. Nevertheless it is actually true that diamonds in quantity are being obtained, and that these precious stones are as eagerly sought after as gold is in these regions. We arc indebted to Mr H. Hall, F.R.G.S., for the following particulars, which were published in the English Mechanic in October last. He describes the country in which the diamonds are found as bounded by tire high and in some places precipitous mountain ranges of the Plombergeu, Maluti, Qua thiamin, Drachenberg, ami M agaliosbergcn, varying in height from 5000 to 10,000 feet. These mountains form the watershed of the Orange and Vaal Rivers which roll their •waters through extensive plains, inhabited

by the Boers, who lead patriarchal lires moving their flocks and herds, as the necessities of pasturage require. These plains have been subjected to violent volcanic action at different periods, and several magnificent waterfalls have in consequence been formed in the river, as well as little hillocks of diluvial matter on the plains, composed of quartz, agate pebbles, jasper, and conglomerate masses,'cemented together with oxide of iron, tufaceous limestone, and other similar rock forming substances in which the diamonds are now found. A few miles south of the Orange Hivcr, near the northern boundary of Cape Colony, is a village or seat of magistracy called Hope Town. It is about 600 miles N. E. of Cape Town, and being the seat of government for a thinly inhabited district, there is there a church, a cluster of houses, shops, and stores. It was from this town that the first rumor of the diamond bearing region along the banks of the Vaal and Orange Hirer reached the ears of the merchants and tradesmen of Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. A very large diamond of the first water fell into the hands of a trader there, who bought it for a trifle of a native, amongst whose children it had passed for a plaything. What he gave for it we are not informed, probably a few sheep, cattle, or a waggon ; if the latter, the native would consider his fortune made. Gradually many more shining stones (for, says Mr Hall, oven uncut diamonds shine amongst their quartz companions) found their way into the hands of the little Hope Town “wincklers,” as retail dealers arc called at the Cape. After some time the report of the discoveries reached the ears of a celebrated firm of diamond merchants in.London, who sent a confidential agent to make enquiries. He went, he saw the country, and condemned it as a non-diamond-containiug land, and pronounced the reported discoveries, as a “ plant ” by some land speculator who wanted a good price for his farms. Notwithstanding this, and in spite of the unbelief of the people, diamonds were found. The Governor, Sir P. Wodehouse, was known to have bought several, and a Cape firm, Messrs Mosenthal and Co., were reported to have invested largely in them quietly, but it not until fhe second year, the close of 1868, that the colouies in South Africa were roused to a knowledge of their wealth by the finding of a diamond of pure water, weighing 83i carats. The whereabouts of the lorg resting place of this diamond is not exactly known, as it passed from the hands of the native finders through intermediate agents into those of Messrs Mosenthal, who paid a considerable sura for it. For some time it was in the hands of the Cape Town Government, but early in 1869 it was sent to Europe under the name of the “ Star of South Africa.” After remaining in London some time, it was sent to Amsterdam and cut. Although very ranch reduced in weight 1 y the process, it turned put a splendid brilliant and realised a large sum of money • some people say L 14,000, others 124,000.’ Just as the discovery of a payable alluvial goldfield in Australia leads to'the abandonment of old pursuits, and a rush by all classes to reap the harvest of wealth wailing to be picked up, a furore for diamond digging seized the population of Cape Colony , and Free State. They went in droves to the banks of the Yaal River and near the Mission Stations, Pniel on the south and Hebron on the north side of the river, diamonds of all sizes from one to fifty carats in weight have been picked up, besides a considerable quantity of valuable though inferior diamond “Bert,” used for cutting and polishing purposes. The digging appliances, like our early gold washing machinery are rude and of a makeshift character. Few of the diamond-hunters had. in all probability, ever seen a diamond in the rough in their lives ; but notwithstanding their want of experience, at a low estimate, about LIOO,OOO worth of diamonds have been picked up, which would give an average of about 15s a-day to those engaged in searching for them. There are about 3,000 persons on the ground, many of whom have been unsuccessful. Mr Hall says the romantic stories in the Cape papers, though not devoid of truth, must, however, be taken cum f/rano salts. Many a digger may believe himself in possession of a real gem worth many thou'sand pounds, which may turn out to be a worthless quartz pebble ; while on the other hand, in every shovelful of gravel hundreds of small diamonds, all of some value, may exist, and may be thrown aside, owing to the perfect inexperience of the “diamantzockers, ” as the Dutch hoers call the diggers. The usual effect of the discovery of mineral riches has followed : landed property has advanced in value, and produce of all kinds in that once desolate region has marvellously increased. As an instance of the universality of the diamond fever, we may mention that the President Pretorious, of the Trans-Vaal Republic, laid down his baton of office, took up a pick axe and shovel, and, with his officials, joined the diamond-hunters. From Natal, clergymen, medicos, farmers, officers of the army, and others forsook their occupations to gropo among the rocks for the precious stones. A sort of provisional government has been formed, and order and regularity subsist to a wonderful extent. “Nor,” says Mr Hall, “ are the ar/mnetts of life altogether wanting, as at the diggings are billiard tables, Christy minstrels, so la water machines, &c., *c.” Referring to the speculative prices given on the diggings, he remarks, “We ' must no be surprised, however, to find many, both diamond seekers and buyers, disappointed, as in our judgment the prices said to be given for uncut diamonds at the diggiugs are far more than cut stones could be purchased for iu London. Paris, or Arasterdam. Pniel and Hebron, where the explorations arc going on, arc Stations of the Berlin Missionary Society, near the great bend of the Vaal Kiver. The missionaries, Mr Hall think, very injudiciously levy a tribute of 25 per cent, on the value of the diamonds found instead of a moderate fee as a miner’s right. This leads to much concealment of tli e diamonds found. They adopted the plan some oears ago of taxing heavily some parties who were < n the search for copper, and made the matter worse by declaring it was for the “sake of the Lord.” Compared with gold digging, diamond seeking must be pronounced a most speculative and uncertain pursuit. When gold is found its value is minutely ascertainable; but so many circumstances enter into fixing the value of a diamond, that its possessor may be richer or podrer than he estimates through the presence or absence of a trilling element in the stonp. From the article from which these particulars are extracted it would appear that no geologist would expect to have found diamonds in that region. One writer says :—“The position in which the diamonds are found is a complete enigma to me. The richest find has been on the top of a kopje, perhaps 100 feet above the river. Indeed, the present

run of the river has nothing to do with the find of the diamond. The whole country must have been submerged, and the matrix in which the diamonds are found must have been deposited in the run of the inundation, current, lake, or body of water. The matrix is formed upon and between the chinks of the rocks. The surface is strewn with fragments of rocks and metamorphic sandstone, I think pudding stone, qnaitz, and also ironstone. Ido not think any of these rocks are abrased by friction; their edges are more or loss rounded off, hut this arises, I think, from decomposition.” The Pniel and Hebron diamond diggings arc about SOO miles from (Jape Town, via Beaufort West; and GSO from Port Elizabeth, via Coles berg. The roads are in general good, and bullock teams enable diggers to take supplies with them.