Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-11-04

forth are reliable or not. The Tribune in
an editorial has made a summary of the
facts so far reported about the new helds
from which we copy:
It'll about four years since the first dia-
mond was found in South Africa. inns was
stone estimated at the time to be worth
about S., 500. In the course of year five or
six more were picked up by natives and sold to
colonists for a mere tritle. In the third year
a fine stone of So l-2 earats, now known as
THE Star of South Africa" was barter, q
away to a cattle dealer, and after passing
through several hands finally sold for ga
600. This was but a triie compared with
such famous gems as the Regent diamond,
worth million of dollars, or the famous
jewel belonging to the Sultan of Matan in
Borneo, valued at three millions and half I;
but it was quite enough to cause II rush OF en-
igration from Natal and Cape Town, and it is
reported that from 500 to 1000 persons are
now engaged in the search.
The diamond field is represented as cover
ing an area of no less than 200 square miles,
principally in the Orange River Free State,
but stretching on the one side into the Trans
vaal Republic, and on the other into the Brit
ish Cape Colony. The definition includes the
most remote points at which there are rumors
OF any discoveries, Dul tuc VI INV
search is concentrated in tract few miles
in extent on both sides of the Vaal River.
near its junction with the Orange, about 800
miles from Cape Town. The jurisdiction
over the land is in dispute between several
native chiefs and the two Boer republics OF
Iransvaal and the Orange Free State, while
Dutch missionaries also claim a territorial
proprietorship in certain parts OF the leiu,
and exact from miners royalty of one-quar-
ter of the find. These disputes give the mi
ners little concern, for they have organized a
republic OF their own, elected provisional
government, and made preparations to de-
clare themselves independent Thus far they
seem to have lived peaceably and orderly
being probably too busy TO make trouble.
The widest stories, of course, are eirculat-
ed respecting the value of the discoveries;
but thus far no trustworthy statistics have
been published. The latest advlces from the
Cape report rich developments at the Pniei
diggings, where a diamonds have been found
in one week, and Fl 600 paid to the missiona-
ry as royalty. Surprising the royalty 10 have
been honestly paid (Which we grant Is sup
posing a good dead, we shall have 100000
for the value of seventy-four dlamonds-an
average OF $40 piece. There are nearly
one thousand men at work in this distrlct,h
ever, and they seem to have worked for
long WHlle WIN Oniy uOutIdte L TX
stroke OF good luck over which the South
African papers are now rejoicing has yielded
the fortunate miners only $50 piece. Tn,
Cape Argus con lectures that the value OF all
the diamonds unearthed since the discovery
of the Star of South Africa must be about
fl00, 900, that the yield at present Is about
l20 or $50 stones a week. COM lectures as to
the value Of the product are OF little worth,
for they must rest only or the hearsay testi-
mony of inexperienced witnesses. The dig
gings are remote and hard to reach. Compar-
atiyely few stones therefore find their way al
once to market, and we have only the guesses
of immigration agents, forwarders, and colo
NAL journalists as to the treasures which the
Adventures may have put away in
their pockets, waiting convenient opportu-
nifty to sell We only know that nearly ali
the stones thus tar seen have been very small
most of them worth only few dollars; and
nono-not even the Star of South Airica-can
be said TO possess exceptional br lliancy. The
search, however, has been conducted in ran
dom, superficial manner, by merely scraping
the surface soil and washing or sitting tn,
gravel in which the gems are found; SO that
though the result has not yet been sufficiently
brilliant to tempt emigration from distant
shores ii is by no means unlikely that more
careful ard systematic methods of digging
will prove Saulh Africa TO be one of the rich
est diamond-ands on the globe.