Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-29
DIAMONDS.

DIAMONDS.
A correspondent of the New York
World, writing from Port Elizabeth IN
South Aries, says that considerable ex-
citement has been created at that place,
in regard to the late discoveries of dia-
monas. as many as three hundred having
been found on one farm.
TIE LARGEST DIAMOND
that has been found is the Star of South
Africa. It was purchased from native
doctor or magician by Dutehman, for
500 sheep. He brought it to Port Eliza
beth and sold it for Ell, 300. 1t was put
on exhibition and realized several humid
red pounds, which was handed over to a
charitable institution. The owner was
Offered $1,000 for it at Cape Town,
but he refused, and the last heard of it
was that The owner was in Paris, nego-
tiating a sale with some Prince, at
$50, 1000. I have seen several diamonds
from up the country, valued at from Flo
10 ESQ, but ar :,c
THE NEXT LARGEST
sold in This place was on Market square
at public auction. 1t brought 1920.
Since then regular shipments have been
made to England by every steamer, and
among the regular consignments from
here you viii see ''box of diamonds. p
The last that goes by this steamer consists
of over 300 diamonds, varying the size
from one half to three and half carats.
A one and a quarter carat diamond in the
rough, if pretty regular and first water,
is worth IS, and two and half, e23.
This allows one-half carat for cutting.
FARM SPARKLING WITH DIAMONDS. +
The greatest excitement has been re-
garding the discovery of go diamonds on
one farm. On the day before this dis
coyery the farm was virtually sold for
g, 900 in bluebacks, worth about two
shillings to the pound sterling, but on the
day of the discovery the owner refused
to close bargain with the first buyer,
and sold it TO another party for g, 900 in
coin. The consequence is that Iitiga-
ton will commence Immediately about
this farm.
PLENTY OF GEMS.
A correspondent of the GRAF Reinet
AduertiSer writes from Hope Town, I'M
der date of Nov. IA, that Messrs. Hound,
Webb & De Kock returned last Sunday
from trip to the diamond mines. Mr..
Hond brought with him sixty diamonds,
and Mr.. De Kock about seventeen. These
diamonds are all very small, the largest
not exceeding three carats weight. They
average less than half carat, but are
very pretty gems, mostly all first water.
Mr.. Mores also returned a few days
ago from the diamond fields,
bringing forty diamonds, also very
small, but of the first water. One he
found himself while shaking hands with
a trader at his wagon. 1t is the prettiest
gem in the parcel, and weighs two carats.
| He found another and a smaller one.
Besides those enumerated, Mr.. Morse has
brought twenty-four diamonds into Hope
Town. The Queenstown Free Press re-
ports that Mr.. Sonnenburg has just re-
turned from his trip up the
country with fifty-one diamonds
and several varieties of other
precious stones. They are certainly
TIE PRErTIEsr COLLECTION
Of diamonds ever seen in Queenstown.
The largest is about six carats and the
smallest about the size of q pins head.
OF the twenty-three largest none weigh
less. than one carat. The whole of this
collection were purchased by Mr.. S. be-
yond the river Vaal He was offered
$3.50 for the lot, but considers them worth
$1,000.
The Graaf Reinet paper says that dia-
mond news IS still the news. Yesterdays
post confirms The discovery of a diamond
spot near Jacobadal, and the number col
Iected is said to be 500. \ correspondent
says that private company has been
formed at Hopetown who have purchased
for a good round sum the farm on which
these diamonds we're found. 1t is probs-
bic, therefore, soon, that some systematic
operations will be commenced. A con-
slant supply of small diamonds would be
far preferable to an occasional finding
even Of diamonds likethe ''Star of South
Africa" Regularity of supply is of the
greatest importance.