The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-28

An occasional correspondent of the New
York World, writing from Port Elizabeth,
South Africa, on December 4, gives the fol-
lowing account of the diamond mines:
THE DIAMOND MINES
are situated in the Orange Free State, Dutch
republic, back of this colony, nearly due nortn
in the interior A great deal of the country fs
taken up by farmers, and each farmer Owls
about 5000 acres of land; but there is an I'M
mense amount of unexplored land In the Or
range and Vaal River districts, and it Is from
these districts that the natives have heretofore
brought all the diamonds that have been sold
in this market. The roads are good for 300
miles to Hope Town, (near where the diamond
region commences,) and from there you have
to make your roads as best you can; but as the
country Is mostly plain or gently rolling land,
it Is easy to get over.
THE LARGEST DIAMOND
that has been found is the Star of South Africa
It was purchased from native doctor or ma
gican by q Dutchman for 500 sheep. He
brought 1t to Port Elizabeth and sold tt for
800. Itwas put on exhibition and realized
several hundred pounds, which was handed
over to q charitable institution. The owner
was offered 100000 for it at Cape Town, but
the owner refused, and the last that heard OF
it was that the owner was in Paris negotiating
sale with some prince at 100000. have
seen several diamonds from up the country
valued at from fl0 to ESQ, but
THE NEXT LARGEST
sold in this place was on the Market square at
public auction. 1t brought f320. Since then
regular shipments have been made to England
by every steamer, and among the regular con.
diamonds" The last that goes by this steamer
consists of over three hundred diamonds va
rying In size from one-half to three and a half
carats. one and O quarter carat diamona IN
the rough, if pretty regular and first water, Is
worth fS, and two and half f32. This al
lows one-half carat waste for cutting.
A FARM SPARKLING WITH DIAMONDS.
The greatest excitement has t!cn regarding
the discovery of 230 diamonds on one farn-
On the day before this discovery the farm was
virtually sold for $4,000 n 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, aRd.
sold it to another party for $4,000 in coin. The
consequence is that a litigation will commence
Immediately about this farm.
PLENTY OF GEMS.
A correspondent of the Graaf Reinet Adver.
tiser writes from Hope Town, unc"r date OF
November IA, that Messrs. Hond, Webt d De
Kock returned last Sunday from trip to the
diamond mines. Mr.. Hond brought with him
sixty diamonds, and Mr.. De Kock about seven
teen. 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 oil first water. MI.
Cores also returned few days ago from the
diamond fields, bringing forty diamonds, also
very small, bit of the first water. One he
found himself while shaking hands with q
trader at his wagon. 1t is the prettiest gem In
tho parcel, and weighs two carats. He found
another and n smaller one. Besides those
enumerated, Mr.. Cores has brought twenty
four diamonds into Hope Town. The Queens
town Free Press reports that Mr.. SonnenDurg
has lust returned from his trip up the country
with flfty-one diamonds and several Varletles
of other precious stones. They are certainly
THE PRETTIEsT COLLECTION
of diamonds ever seen In Queenstown. Tie
largest is about six carats, and the smallest
about the size of pins head. or the twenty
three largest, none weigh less than one carat.
rhe whole of this collection was purchased by
Mr.. S. beyond the River Vaal. He was offered
ESQ for the lot, but considers them worth
fl000.
The Graaf Relnes paper says that diamond
news Is still the news. Yesterdays post con-
firms the discovery of diamond spot near
Jacobadal, and the number collected Is said to
be three hundred. A correspondent says that
private company has been formed at Hope
Town, who have purchased for good round
sum the farm on which these diamonds were
found. It Is probable, therefore soon, that
some systematic operations will be commenc-
ed. A constant supply Of small diamonds
| would be far preferable to an occasional find
inc even of diamonds like the sStar Of South
Africa" Regularity of supply is Of the great
est importance.