The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-01-22
Tlae Albanp geoister,


It seems as though, after lapse of
three centuries, Sir Walter Raleigh's
dreams of an FL Dorado were about to
be realized. The other day we published
an account of marvellous discoveries of
diamonds in South Africa. They had
been found for miles along the banks of
the Orange and Vaal rivers. They were
not only abundant, but they were, many
of them, of great size. Some were found
of the pandoloGue shape, and of the first
water, weighing upwards of eighty car
ats others of the oetahearon, or four
pointed, that weighed thirty carats and
OF the smaller varieties immense numbers
had been picked up on the surface of the
ground. Naturally South Africa was in
ferment. Elephants tusks were for
gotten, and every one was hunting for
precious stones. The infection had even
extended to this city, and DIR. HaM was
organizing colony to go diamond gath
erlng. But now come reports from Aus
tralia of discoveries which far eclipse
those in South Africa. Telegrams have
come flying from the Australia mines to
England big enough to make the dia-
nond merchants hold their breath with
astonishment. The glittering stones
have been picked up in such quantities
that, says the London Times in a leading
article on the subject, 'sthe colonists are
all dreaming of precious stones. At
every carriage the talk is of diamonds
and rubIes, pearls and topazes, and peo-
pie of all ranks are rushing to the mines.
Genuine diamonds are on sale by women
and children at every cottage, and there
could hardly be a mistake, We should
think, about the nature of the stones T"
This is marvellous to all conscience, but
this is not half the story, the rest of it
amacks of the Arabian Nights Enter
tainments, and Sinbad the Sailors ad-
ventures in the great diamond valley to
which he flew on the back of a mighty
bird. And this latter and wonderful
half We must preface with the statement,
familiar doubtless to many of our read
ers, that the increase in value of the dla-
mond is vastly greater in proportion than
its increase in weight. A stone one carat
fer instance, might be worth $50; but
one Weighing Eve carats would be worth
$4,000. Imagine. then, the value Of one
as big as lemon, aud weighing three
quarters of pound Such one is said
~ nave pHeu louuu III -AuStfdIid- LIS
discovery has been telegraphed to Eng
land. It was placed in the hands of a
trustworthy man. He was surrounded
by strong Gordon of military, and was
marched in this way from the mines to
Sydney, where the magnificent gem was
deposited in the mint. The stone has
not yet been thoroughly tested. Geolo-
gists are at work upon it now; but if it
really proves to be what it is supposed,
its value will be almost fabulous. Its
weight is nine hundred carats. s'Thc
great English diamond, that pride of
the British Empire, the koh-i-noor,
weighs but one hundred and eighty-six
carats, and its computed value is ten
millions in gold The value of the stone
just found. if computed by the tables in
use, would be hundred millions in
gold. But, of course. this value would
In any event be imaginary, since no pur-
chaser could be found, with a hundred
millions to spare for a diamond, even if
it was big as a lemon.