The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-10-21 00:00:00

r 1, 1671.

!:.F 0E THE MAI • NIN:LDS
oN soUTH AFRIcA.
To the Editor of the " Observer."

toF he whole world, and ore driving
should like
gnoeator omit!
Stihne,i—r
senses,Tliese many fields hove now become talk of alienist
pretty
t o diamond fields to wake my fortune,- of course, feeling
quite certain that it is easily done if they have gut a
shovel and pick in hand, expecting each shovelful to con-
tain a handful of sparkhog gema. But how miserably
disappointed are these fortune-aeeking men when they
find theinselres in reality on the much talked of fields,
and that they are not now in a fanciful dream build.
castles in the air. Dow astounded are they when theg
see around them some of their brother diggers laiiourinY
like galley slaves for months and mouths, and tinclin:
themselves far poorer than when they began, which is the fate of many. Do not for a moment misunderstand se,
and think that I mean each is the case with all diggers.
and that I represent the whole thing ad a hoax and %taut
goose chase. For some people, I have no hesitatiou
in
saying, have made fortunes; others, I admit, have paid
expenses.
, There are now over 3:000 on the fields. At Dn Toils
Pan alone there are over 15,000. This toss now become
I a general spot for the diggers, and is supposed to be the
metels for tbe diamonds, which I feel quite inclined to
believe myself from a careful examination of the soil.
. There are also many other diggings, viz., Klipdrift,
Pniel, Gang Clone, Cawoods, Hope, llebruu, Moonlight
Bush, &c., ; but Du Toits Pan is by far the largest
camp. The number of tents which meet the view on ap-
proaching this camp is something enormous. The dia-
monds found here are not good, as a rule. The river
diggings are much better. Indeed, I have known dia-
monds sold as low as lOs and 12s fit. 1 myself have had
the pleasure of seeing about a half-dozen diamonds over
, 70 carats, and every one of them bad stones. One of 72
, carats was bold for £700; another of 921 carats for
£2,000, which, had it been a good stone, would have
been worth £35,000, or thereabeuts.
If I may be allowed to give advice to intending diggere,
having had some experience as to diamond digging, defil-
ing, &c.' the first thing 1 would adviac them to do would
be to tade as little luggage as they possibly can, consist-
ing of one or two pairs of strong boots toot too heavy),
a couple or three suits of corduroy or moleskin, and
I oil
a dozen pairs of knitted stockings, or socks. 1 e !yr
knitted, because they will wear Once or four pairs ~f
woven Ones out, and there is a greet advantagr, on you
have to mend your own things. In fact, you have to do
everything yourself—cooktog, washing, &c., as Kallirs
are difficult to be obtained.
And now, with regard to living. I feel that I should
say a few words on this subject. A man &alkyl,. well on
Is per day. When I say treq. I do not mesa to assert
that he earl have fish, soup, wine, &c., but that he can
live as a digger. Mutton could have been had for 344
per lb., but just before I left it had gone up 2d per lb.
but I would not advise any one to buy beef, so most of
the oxen have lung diseases, and in COlistquellee are of
a peculiar flavour. Springbok can be boogiue for a mere
nothing in the market—sometimes so low as 411 each.
When hang for a few days they become very tender and
delicious eating. Bread (such as it is) may be said to be
reasonable for the fields, being Is per loaf. But should
the digger go in for vegetables he will fiud his pocket
rather light, as he will sometimes have to pay for one
single cabbage .1s fid, for potatoes 6.1 or sel per It,. ;
ehould he also fancy an egg or two he will have to pay
Is 6d per dozen. My advice is to leave vegetables and
eggs to take care of themselves, and live on bread and
mutton, and Springbok, when it can be had. Coffee is
ressionable. being Solid per lb.
I think I have said all that is necessary about eatables
and drinkable., unless the digger should have an inclina-
tion in the way of intoxicating liquors. All spirits may
be had, with the exception of whiskey, and at moderate
rates, beiog 61 per glass ; but French brandy is 91
Boer brandy, commonly coded •• Cape Smolt, ," may be
had for la 61 per bottle • draught beer at 6d per glans;
or • bottle of Allsop's de at 2s 6d. But I would advise
him to leave the above-mentioned articles alone, if Le
really means to work. Coif.-e is the best drink to aork
upon. lam obliged to say that &Mame is the curse of
the field, being the death of many. I have known nom
myself who have gout up to the field. and commenced
drinking and gambling before they have eveu done a
stroke of work, and have died like a dog in the fields.
Many of the unlucky ones take to drinking and try in
that fashion to drown care ; as the old proverb ssys they
"Keep their spirits up, by pout-lag spirits dowu."
NOSS a few words as to the mode of working at Du
Toits Par. Two sieves are bought (or made). The top,
or rough sieve, is about Oft by Ift. Gin. The bottom
one, a fine sieve, is about Ift by if t. bin. The sieves
are placed on a curd between two stake., mei swung to
and fro, until all the fine soil has passed through the I),Z-
-one. What remains on the top sieve is roughly sorted
With the hand, and thrown away, and what remains on
the bottom one is put upon the table and sorted. This
work is called dry sifting; river work is very different. as
the cradle has to be used, and all the stuff washed, for
there are pebbles to sort, whereas at Oa Teas Pan you
seldom or never see a pebble, as you work in a kind of
lime. The work is very hard. I have known men who
have gone from England to the fields, and looked at the
work for one day, and been disgusted, and returned to
their homes. Others have stopped a week sad returned,
while others have plodded on.
' The best way to get up to the fields is from Cape Town
by the Inland Transport Company's waggons, which
Complete the journey of 789 miles, in about ten or eleveu
days, the cost of which is £.12, and you are allowed 40lbs
of luggage. You may also go from Algae Bay, by ox
waggon, for £5 (without excess of luggage), in about
thirty or thirty•five days, and sometimes it is over forty.
This way becomes rather monotonous before you reach
your destinatiou. I myself have been both ways. The
first thing to he dour on arriving at the fields is to buy a
tent, which may be had for about £7, large enough for
one or even two to live in. A cottage tent is the best
one to get. Shooting may be had in going up the coun-
try. Some of the vast treelese plains are almost alive
with Springbok, Blasbok, &c., &co and in the hush may
be seen the Leogard, Tigercat, die., cousdluently the ride
is vely handy. Every class of people have found their
way to the fields, from the nobleman down to the pea.
sant. They are all diggers. The nobleman and peasant
are on an equality with each other. There is no respect
lord or a coal-heaver.
for persons whatever. A digger is a digger, whether a

These fields not only produce the diamond, but also
other precious stones are unearthed, such as the garnet,
topaz, amethyst, and, rarely, the coraeltan. The ruby is
not found, although it is said to be by many people. It
is the garnet which is honoured with the name of ruby.
Nevertheless it is very beautiful. and closely resembles
the ruby. The true ruby contains magnetism, and it
may be tested as follows : Procure a small slip of paper,
rub the stone sharply upon • piece of cloth ; if a ruby it
will pick up the paper as • magnet would a piece of steel,
if a garnet this effect will not be produced. And now
cornea the grand question—how come these gems to be
there ? I believe, having consulted clever men on the
subject, volcanic action to have caused the formation of
them. The reason they are found in the bed of the
river, is caused by the heavy rains, which have washed
them there.
_ .

Having given the above few facts, to per.ons who in-
tend to try their hick at the diggings, I beg to subscribe
myself,