New-York tribune., 1870-11-05
SOUTH AFRICAN DIAMONDS.
TWO EXTRAORDINARY GENs-THE LUCKY WEEK
FIFTY DIAMONDS IN ONE DAY.

TWO EXTRAORDINARY GEMs-THE LUCKY WEEK
FIFTY DIAMONDS IN ONE DAY.
The mails from Cape Colony bring informa-
ton respecting an unusually fortunate week in the
diamond dggings The stone discovered by Mr. Parkes.
referred TO following article from The cape Argus
is valued at from $4,000 Ia S55 900 He had offered
night before sell his claim shilngs. The other
large diamond is estimated OF nearly equal value with
that Of Mr.. Parkes:
There are ways by which Cape people judge Of the
success OF the now-estabished diamond industry The
first and important the actual yield Of diamonds.
and the second the successful and paying occupation
found dggers. As far the first is concerned the
news OF the fortnight most satisfactory. We should
say that both the and value Of diamonds found
has been greater than in previous fortnight since
the dggings commenced while several diamonds excep
tionally large have been turned up When the
last Mail Summary forwarded 10 En-
gland rumor had reached Cape Town of
two enormous diamonds having been discovered.
Two diamonds weighing respectively Sc and 81 carats,
have without doubt been found. One, believe, IL a
very fine gem. Of good shape; the other. somewhat
fawed. The discoverers startled any else
al their good luck In both the claims had
promised little that the majority Of those working
them had left In despair and had gone elsewhere tO try
their fortunes. Two three remained sort OF for
lorn hope 10 make attempt and rewarded
by turning out these large and brilliant gems.
The editor OF The Journal thus graphically refers 10
the report Of eyewitness OF Parkess discovery: Mr.
King he says, had and handled his diamond. and
went into raptures its splendid qualities At the
time OF the find Parkes In a desponding
mood. and wac about TO offer his claim for
sale OF 10 abandon IT, He had been at work for
two months and had found nothing worth mentioning
However he resolved upon taking last dig two.
most fortunate resolve! In went the pick, and ont
tumbed the diamond You should have seen Mr. King.
dramatic Of Parkess excitement on find
a
smile the forehead. and the Of joy adj
mirahy initiated by the Jolly farmer OF Bedford" Be
sides these monsters several fine large diamonds
have found three OF them noted especially
beautiful, one weighing 40 carats another 2ei and
third grain two short Of 30 We hear also what
good authority, of stone weighing earsts Of
somewhat inferior description having been purchased
from a native woman for wagon and span OF oxen
The week ending the 21th Of August went by the name
OF the lucky week" from the number and quality OF
the stones picked up THIS was said TO have been the
found much IN that one week as they had done in any
previous month. The proceeds were valued by
10000 by Others at much larger figure. But these
amounts little more than guesses.
There Of course no general register kept Of the dia
monds found and we are told that no concern shown 70
make public small or even ordinary finds We only hear
of the large stones register is IL Ia true kept the
mining GROUNDS ~ rhsi Rss saseP' an eaSeptonal en-
diamonds found, We hear little Of it's contents In
by the mail steamers satisfactory evidence Of the sub
stanal OF the dggings We have not the
Hope, which sailed on the nth and tn. Roman, which
conveys this have parcels Of treat value
and the Roman 20 still larger To our know
edge q consderab number have not yet been sent
holue, while others earned by their owners and
| never figure In the Customs report.
AZ 10 the other Of estimating the OF the
Field.-namely the luck which attends Individual dig.
gers or the digging community whole. in less than
two the digging population has been increased
from 500 10 5000 and the L. sti they come-some on
foot: come spring carts we equipped with foOd and
implements others Ia scrubby vehicles without cover
all making for the mine VI south African wealth
few OF the travellers go alone, with native
servants, others IN family parties aud IN small
toi panes. They of all
and all descriptions some art clerks, some laborers,
soIne tradesInen Our readers Judge hov many are
likely 10 be successful among motley heterogeneous
crowd pursuing industry peculiarly uncertain and
nyoyiiig very hard work We believe that companies
proIery Organized with good stan Of workmen, are
likely ~ be ultimately fortunate and such ART already
beng formed with every prospect o The
resp1Ddent before alluded 10 says: AT Daggerboer'r
Mex heard a good deal about the party which
s,.rted from that place time under Capt.
/ Fri,by The venturr-s joint stock snalr-Absorbed q
capital Of tGo ThisS bnsihcrs a, vel as digging
party and good accounts Rave l~eb utceI,td VI The
prospects VI the speculation