The New York herald., 1870-10-22
Tho South African Dinmo nd Fields.

Tho South African DiamOnd Fields.
TO THE EDITOR or THE LONDON TIMEs:-
In your journal OF tina 2sth inst. letter from the
Dean Of Grahams.own appears, which / hope you
VIII allow me TO comment upon No doubt the Dean
writes In perfect good iath but he must nave been
grossly misinforned as to the aifflcultes OF the
Natal route to the diamond fields when he speaks Of
the "almost impossible mountain range, the
Drakensburg.n
The distance from Durham to the foot OF the Drak-
ensburg is 100 miles; from there to Harrismith
which s upon the tabeiand OF the Free state, orty
miles, In Aaiai all the rivers are Dridgcd except
one, which has punt. or scow on IL. From Harii-
smith To Pnie s ABOUT $50 miles with the roads very
good, makiug u total OF, say 450 miles. were tEe
distance actually measured beiieve the dls.
would be found 10 considerably exceed $50 miles;
but While Port Alfred ~ very dangerous roadstead
the packets frequently having TO pass II without dis
charging their cargo, Dnrban ,s safe and conye-
nent port Two lines OF sailing packets sail regu-
arly rom London every montnior DURHAM In ad
dition to the two steam packet companies,
while lew sailing ships can be induced to
load for the kowie. There short line
OF railway from the custom house TO the
III the way OF miners' Quilt can pe OBJ
tanned. From Durham to Pietermaritzburg
stage coaches run daily. Between Pieiermaritzburg
and iarrlsmlth there are good inn, al about every
at the summit or The Drakensblrg over which, du-
rng the season, as many as ten wagons pass daily
each way carrying load OF rom three To four tons
eas h; In TACT, This terrible Drakensburg range Is
crossed Dy nearly the whole OF The supplies drawn
by the Transvaal and Free state republics, and
which are sent TO districts 10 the west Ut the dia-
Iiond fields in preference TO getting them
through Grahamstown. Horses aud mules
are a5 cheap III Natal as in the Cape
colony, If noL cheaper while oxen are considerably
cheaper IN the .oriner colony. but . one great
advantage O the Natal route Is the abundance OF
grass and aer, which is OF no small consequence
When 1t Is considered that every wagon requires
from twelve to sixteen oxen, according TO the load
tho roate between Grahamstown and the diamond
ield. both grass ana water are scarce and the lat
ter has lreque tiy 10 be purchased from the small
reservoirs been.ing to the roadside farmers.
When the first rush TO be Tai gold iields occurred
many OF the parties from the Cape Colony
lost nearly the Whole OF their oxen before arriving
at Tofcaelotroon, wnle those VINO came from Natal
arrived in good condition, owing to the abundance
OF iood Cl The latter route.
Two tnngs are mucn wanted In Natal
i. Good ana cheap lodgings aJ Durpan for immt-
grant TO live IN whiie completing their arrange
ments ior proceeding into the Interior.
.. SecGte p0sial arrangements with the Free
STATE and Tran5vaa There IS no direct COM
roou at present, and although letters a,e regis
tered their SAFE conduct ~ very prccati0us. 1t Is
hopeless 10 expect the Free state or Iransyaal Co.
vernlnents 10 do this; but the expense Oi carrying
mails by native runners Is very small. What would
venture to sug ,eaL 10 the Natal government would
be that agents should be established ~ Harrismlth
POthefO room anu Pniel, WnO would receive letters
Tor u small single charge, to De prepaid in coin or
British stamps, AMI the bags should be forwarded,
without opening ep yOute, direct to Pietermaritz.
nearly the whole OF The diamonds would pass into
the hanus OF the Natal merchants.
am, Sir, your oJedlenJ servant,
CAPHEAToN, Sept 30, 1870. JOHN SWINBURNE.