Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-12-02
THE AFRICAN DIAMOND FIELDS.

WV ~ '1O'NiA 1919" w .
details of the wonderful diamond
regions discovered in the valley of
the Vaal and the whole southern
part of Cape Colony. An eminent
geologist has visited the country,
and, after careful analysis, declares
it the richest in the world, and ca
pablo of atfording work for thou
sands of diggers for years without
cxhausting the immense stores of
precious stones imbedded in the
soil. The editor of the NotM Mer-
cury has visited the country and
writes from there:
We have visited, inspected, and
carefully inquired into the workings
and yield of the diamond fields, and
we now most unhcsitatingly declare
that there has been no exaggeration
whatever about the matter, but, on
the contrary, everything has been
moderated. We assert, on the au
thority Of Messrs. Unger, Hond, and
all who have made the matter their
study, that the world has undoubt-
edly never known such diamond
mines before. Mr.. Unger, the dia-
mond merchant from Hamburg, who
has been in the trade all his life,
declares, that by mere surface
Something's, not mining, we are
every day unearthing stones Of a
size and quality far superior to those
found in the Brazils at a depth of
twenty feet and upward; and what
is more, that in the above mention
ed mines a iive-carat diamond is
seldom, if ever found oftencr than
once in five years, while at the Vaal
River fields, not a day elapses with
out several of three, four, five, six,
up to twenty carats, and even lar
ger, being dug out, publicly exhib-
tied, and disposed of by the finders.
The other day a superb stone of As
carats was found on the widow Yer
rel's farm, where there had already
been yield of fifteen precious
stones, worth an immense fortune.
The average yield is not less than
sixty diamonds day, all of great
value. Many of the most valuable
"fnds" are kept secret, none caring
to tempt the cupidity of strangers
by such alluring bats.
People of every rank are at work
! with pick and shovel. The Presi-
dent of the Transvaal republic, Mr..
Pretorius, has signed the diggers'
rules, and is working away like any
other digger.
The most notable stones found to
August 18th, were Is, 16, II, 26, SO,
Al and ga carats-thc last being a
very inferior stone. A diamond of
800 carats was said to have been
found by Boer, who had prudent
ly gone off with it to Capctown, but
this story needs veriiication as vet.
| The change in the scene from May
is described as being wonderful.
Then there was only one wagon on
the Pnial side. Now there are at
least 400, and as many tents. Eight
hundred men were working here on
ground not above mile square.
A diamond merchant came in re-
Gently from the upper diggings, Il
mile or so above, with box con
tanning 200 diamonds, the greater
'portion being perfect gems, and the
largest weighing - carats. There
were also stones Of 5, 10, and up to
20 carats. In six days he had pur-
chased 400 diamonds. Another
buyer, in few days had purchased
so. \ party of four, in three weeks
had obtained four, one being per-
feet stone Of 254 carats, the others,
81, u, and l carats respectively.
At Jugcrstontein, above Pncil, on
the Naal, 10 diamonds had been
picked up-one of so carats, found
by a boy while working with com
mon pick, and scarcely foot be-
meath the ground. 1t is of the most
brilliant water and worth a fortune.
Messrs. Remington and Holmes
of Hopetown have exhumed beau
tiful stone of 1861 carats, dia-
mond OF the first water. Mr.. Pin
Gus of this town has purchased, in
the few days since his return from
the Bay, upward Of SO diamonds,
larger and Of better quality than his
former lot These we likewise saw
more than once with our own eyes.
Mr.. tnger had become the purchas-
er of a very large number, and is
constantly, day by day, riding from
one party to the other, freely and
anxiously offering to ego in" for
more. One more fact: 4 small
party from Wepener, in the con-
quered tcrritory-T. Cradock, J. J.
Miles, c. Stciien, and p. Van der
Wcsthulsen-washed out a bcauti-
full stone, a perfect gem, slightly
straw -colored, of 25i carats. close
to where we were ut the time stay
ing. This diamond is perfect in
shape and without flaw, and made
the fourth obtained in three weeks,
the first being 81 carats (exhumed
the first day., the second /! carats,
the third carat, and two more
since the large one above mention
ed. These men arrived at the dig
gings without previous knowledge
on the subject. Two young men,
Mcssrs. George ID. Page and a.
Bailie, who were never before ac-
customed to hard work, started the
other day from this town, and from
the first CARLOAD of stuff (grayeD
with which they went down the
river, they washed out a gem of all
but 3 carats, first water, and almost
perfect in shape. This we saw tax
Ell from the table. Mr.. George
Hanger likewise got one out of the
first load Of pebbles, and three or
four since. Mr.. Dicken Baumann's
party obtained two in one day, while
we were there; and Mr.. Clark, also
connected with Mr.. Baumann, sever
al. w. Miller, the wagon maker,
has washed out three or four-one
beauty worth fI5O-and all in
few days. Mr.. VIM. J. Coleman
found one of 6 carats, almost inn
mediately after he commenced wash