Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-10-27
THE DIAMOND FEVER.
Cape Colony Crazy over the crop.
H.. A.. pL laI..L:a p..LI:a L al.za.


Cape Colony Crazy over the Crop.
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.l
1.-THE great diamond discoveries of
Southern Africa, as they are called, are
exciting some parts of the British do
minions as much as the California gold
field excited our people some years ago.
The wonders related by Sinbad the
Sailor seem to be eclipsed, according to
some exuberant and enthusiastic writer's.
There is this difference between the
diamond fields of fact, however, that
whereas the former was inaccessible, the
latter can be reached without much diff
ficulty, except such as stout heart and
strong legs can overcome. A writer,
residing not far from the spot, says that
Cape Colony is out of its senses, and
that the greater part of its junior male
population are in motion-either on the
enchanted ground" or on their way
to it.
The same scenes which form the ira
ditional history of California are wit
messed in the diamond regions of South
Africa; reckless adventure, stories OF
sudden wealth, gambling, drinking and
extravaganza. The tract on which the
diamonds are found is wild region, as
yet outside of any colonial jurisdiction.
1t is bordered on one of its triangular
sides by the British possessions known
as Cape Colony; on the second by the
two little domains called the Orange
Free State and the Trans-Vaal Republic.
The third boundary is indefinite, for the
precious pebbles are said to exist any
where toward the Equator The colo
nists of Cape Town are already calling
the Home Government to "annex" the
tract, and establish British rule. "Red
tape will probably not be so much in
the way in this case as in the execution
of neutrality laws; and the country will
probably be first claimed with a wide
margin, and the red tape afterward ar
ranged at leisure. Meanwhile the
finders" have already extemporized a
Committee of Safety" and a Miners
Government after American precedents,
They claim also to have organized a
force bearing twelve hundred muskets.
This is proclaimed as guard against
the little republics above mentioned,
which are under the control of Dutch
colonists and their descendants.
The word mime" does not seem to
apply to this discovery, since no traces
Of a mine have as yet been discovered.
Gems are found" according to recent
accounts, "glittering 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, so far, seems to be entirely
unskilled and hsphazard, and there is
more than possible chance that many
finders and buyers may yet discover that
many bits of crystal pocketed are not
diamonds. But diamond merchants and
dealers in gems are known to be in con-
siderable force in the field, and men who
were 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 Colony; picks, shovels,
rakes and wasmng-cradles are in de-
mand. High and low, rich and poor,
move for the fields in organized compa-
nies, upsetting all British distinctions OF
blood and birth "The well-employed,
the halfemployed and the unemployed
are off alike. Good situations are
thrown up every day" They so in
companies of from four to sixteen, on
foot, or on horseback, or by horse-cart,
or mule-cart, or ox-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 if diamonds should be discov-
cred and shipped by the bushel, the chief
appreciable effect upon the world would
be a discount on the value ofwell-hoarded
but nonessential ornaments. Gold is by
many political economists held to be
cheaper than before the California and
Australian discoveries; but gold mea-
sures the price of everything else, and
thus creates an equilibrium. And the
increased use of precious metal in the
arts operates to maintain it's long-estab-
lished value. Gems are of only limited
demand in practical directions; and the
result may be, if all the Cape Colonist
reports are true, that pinchbeck watches
can be sold for song, fulljewelled; /"
and that diamonds, heretofore the con-
densed form of wealth, may become like
paste, not worth the gold they are set in.