The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1870-12-30
PNrEL DIAMOND FIELDS.

PyrEL DIAMOND FIELDS,
SoUTH AFRICA, Aug. 81, 1870.
l am determined to make stand
here for sometime. We wash about
ten tons of gravel per day. 1t is
hauled to the river bank ii Scotch
carts, wagons, or anything else that
will take it there. If you look at a
map Of South Africa you can see
where the present diamond fields
are located. They are on the Vaal
river about fifty miles above where
the Hart river joins it, and not very
far above where, both combined,
join the Orange river. There is
great hubbub here as to whom the
country belongs. At present we
have the two Presidents ofthe Trans
yaal and Orange Free States, besides
three or four Kafiir chiefs, with their
head men stopping here. They were
to have meeting to settle affairs,
but it appears all will end in smoke.
There are enough diggers on the
ground to keep both Governments
at bay. The Kafiirs side with the
diggers. The Government at pre-
sent here is composed of the Com
andant and Committee of Twelve
elected by the people. On the south
or Free State side of the river the
land belongs to a German mission
ary society. The resident is named
Kalenberg. He also has a Commit
tee Of Six, with some of the rules in
accordance with those on the opposite
side. No liquor is allowed to be
sold, no timber unnecessarily cut
down, no diamonds to be bought of
Kaffirs, and several others; but the
principal one is that one quarter of
the value of all diamonds must be
paid to the missionary.
Europeans never find any dia-
monds, or at least they say 50. No
one will pay such ridiculous tax.
The first diamond ! found weighed |
81. carats, for which / was offered |
5000. 1t was worth considerably |
more. Agreatmany are found every |
day, ranging from half a carat to
sixty carats. Diamonds are found |
along this river in the hills for 200 |
miles. This place however is the |
principal camp at present. There |
must be some fifty or sixty thousand |
people on both sides of the river. |
These diggings put me very much
IN mind of the early days of Califor-
mia.
New diggings are discovered every
day or two. Even now on Sunday
afternoon, they are rushing away by
scores to some new locality down
the river. Fifty horsemen left in
about an hour, and wagons have
peen gong off by the dozen for the
last three nights. The credit for the
opening Of fthese fields is due to four
australian diggers who were disap-
pointed IN the Tatin gold mines.
Ihey had very rough time with the
haiiirs for some time. but at last the
number was increased by a party of
Twelve ", from King Williams Town.
liner linen they bid defiance to the Kailirs.
shortly afterward the number
amounted to thirty. Then they
formed themselves into a mutual
protection association, passed a code
VI laws, rules and regulations, and
Commandant by the name
oi Parker, and Committee of -Four.
any person arriving afterwa,d had
% sign those laws or otherwise leave.
AZ present there are 800 Europ-
ANS and Americans, the latter very
lew, all lighting men, and every one
win more or less fighting material.
enough to prevent all monopoly
sna concessions. The Free State
government offered to sell those
ands for $50, 0,0O0, 900. The Trans
'sAi conceded and actually made
'.er the land to some private indi-
,.idaais. When they arrived on the !
leid they signed the rules and had
to say. If they had they
souid have been nearly drowned by :
.ueAlng In the river. which is the :
asorlte punishment for any one .
'aisoehaving. Everything goes on
efy peacefully. Robbery is very !
are. Everybody nearly is digging
! interested in a claim. On the
'Di1n I.1n side each man is allowed a ,
.ailn on the south side each com
any has thirty feet square.