AFRICAN TREASURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1923, Page 4

AFRICAN TREASURE.

GOLD AND DIA.UOXDS. If it be true that the object of thy famous criminal Ludwig von Yclthuim in returning to the scenes of bis sensational adventures in .South Airica is to exploit tile legend of the bidden Kruger millions, it is probable that, it lie remains ill the count', y be will bare no difficulty in finding people to put up the necessary cash tor a treasure hunt. Nobody who uus in the coiiimy dining tile I!oer Win period now belie” ? in this silly story, but there is among the remnants of the old pioneer a litrgering faith in some of the stories that have bidden treasure as iheii reason and plot. The “mountain of platinum” tlaimi"] to have been discovered in 1595 by a German doctor who emerged from the Kalahari Desert, and died almost immediately, is still believed in by people of authority, —ggl the small sample brought in by the doctor was genuine enough (says Douglas Blackburn in “The Daily Alai!”). Two expeditions have vonie to disaster in an attempt to pick lip tlie doctor’s tracks, and there is

reason to believe ihnt more than one secretly conducted venture has shared a similar fate.

Then there is a strongly held faith in the genuineness of the story told by an ancient native of indeterminate' race, of a cave “gleaming with gold” somewhere in the vicinity of Krugorsdorp. The native was probably a century old when he tried to interview l’aul Kruger in order to do his duty as the Inst of his tribe by handing over to him, as the Great Chief, the secret of the tribe that has been “eaten up” leaving only the old native as its representative. He steadfastly refused to have anything to say to the subordinates Kruger appointed to deal with the matter, and died, insisting that the king’s secret could be given only to a king.

All Orange river family of Boors have for 10 years been intermittently sen rolling for a packet of diamonds worth many thousands of pounds hidden by their father in an ant bear hole in the veldt in 1880. He was giving a lift in his wagon to an 'Knglishman from Kimberley, who, finding the mounted police chasing the wagon, handed a large parcel to the Boer, with instructions to take if to Christiania, then the Alsatia of illicit diamond buyers, and made off.

The parcel escaped the search of th# polue. and when the Boer found it contained hundreds of large stones he hid it, fearful of the consequences ol being found in possession. He was never able to find the hiding-place, and was certain that the illicit diamond buyers bad found it.