The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-11-04
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fnE DllMoND FEVER.


Cape Cslsay Grassy over the Crsp.
"The great diamond discoveries Of
Southern Africa, a., they arc called,
are exciting some parts Of the British
dominluns q much - the California
gold fisld sxdt6d ADg peeple some years
ago. The wonders related by Sinbad
the Sailor seem to Be eclipsed, accord
ing to some exubefant and enfhusias-
tic VriteRs There fs this difference be
tween the diamond valley Of fable and
the diamond. fields Of fact, however,
that whereas the former was fnaccessi-
ble, the lattercan be reached without
much difficulty, except such a. 8 stout
heart and strong legs can overcome.
Awriter, residing not far from the spot
says that Cape Colony 10 out Of its SEN
ses, and that the greater part Of its jun
ior male population are in motion
either on Che "enchanted gfound,n - or
On their way to it. SOS h1s .rr,-.
The same scenes which form the tra-
ditiona1 history OF California are wit
messed Ia the diamond regions of South
Africa; reckless adventure, stories of
sudden wealth, gambling, drinking and
extravagance. The tract on which the
diamonds are found iss wild region, as
yet outside of sny colonial jurisdiction,
1t is bord6red on one of Its triangular
sides by the british possessions known
rs Cape Colony on the second by the
two little domains called the Orange
Free State and the Trans-Vaal Repub-
lie. The third boundary is indefinite,
for the precious pebbles are said to exist
anywhere toward the Equator. The
;a<a a<~fC = al u
Ing upon the Home Government to an
mex the tract, and establish British
rule. Red taper viii probably not be
80 much in the way in this case as in
the execution Of neutrality laws; and
the country will probably be first claim
ed with q wide margin, and the red
tape afterward arranged ut leisure
Meanwhiieths !" finders'' have already
extemporized . ..COmmitteeof Safety,n
and Miners' Government after Ame-
ricsn precedenU. They claim also to
have organized n force bearing twelve
hundred muskets. This Is proclaimed
IS guard against the little republics
above mentioned, which are under the |
control of Dutch colonists and their de- |
scendants. ~ 1857 4 ~ isa ~
The word ''mine' does not seem to |
apply to this discovery, since no traces
of q mine have as yet been discovered |
"Gems are found, ~ according to recent |
accounts, "gliftering on the very sur. |
face, and the turning up of clay or |
gravel deposits . foot or two below the |
surface, in lucky spots, reveals more of |
the "glittering wealth." The process |
of searching, 90 far, seems to be entire |
ly unskilled and haphaxard; and there |
is more than possible chance that |
many finders and buyers may yet dis
cover that many bits of crystal pock. |
eted are not diamonds. But diamond |
merchants and dealers in gems are |
known to be in considerable force i'm the |
field, aud men who are known to be
poor have now large sums to their /
credit, the proceeds Of their labor. All \
ordinary and useful industry seems to |
be disorganized throughout Cape Col |
ony; picks, shovels, rakes and wash
ing cradles are in demand. High and
low, rich and poor, move for the fields
in organized companies, upsetting all /
British distinctions Of blood and birth.
1.-THE well-emp,oyed, the halEemploy-
ed, and the unemployed are off alike.
Good situations are thrown up every
day. They go In companies Of from
four to sixteen, on foot, or on honse-cart
or mule-cart, or oI.wagOn.
Time will show in what all this will
result. The first statement must be
taken with many grains Of that more
useful crystal than diamond, known as
salt. But il diamonds should be dis
covered and shipped BY the bushel, the
chief appreciable effect upon the world
would De discount on the value of well.
boarded but nonessential ornaments.
Gold is by many political economists
held to be cheaper than before the Cali
fornia and Australian discoveries; but
gold measures tie price of everything
else, and thus creates an equilibrium.
And the increased use Of precious metal
IN thearts operates to maintain its long
value. Gems are of only
limited demand in practical directions;
and the result may be, if all the Cape
colanists reports are true, that pinch
beck watches can be sold for song,
'full.jewelled;;" and that diamonds,
the condenser form Of
wealth, may become like paste, not
worth the gold they are setin.-Phild-
ielphid Ledger.