New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-05
Lift, MT the Diamond Fields in Africa,

"A Diamond Drag conveys passengers
from Durham, Natal, to Harrismith; the rest
of the journey to the diamond fields Is by
post cart or private cart; or the whole jour
ney may be made by wagon. The Times,
of Natal, publishes a letter from CORE
spondent who writes from Faal River:
The diamonds commonly found are very
small. from half Il grain to a carat, and ot
course it takes great many such to amount
up to IL good sum; and a great number OF
people find none after working for months.
We find nothing in the surface wash, which
goes down about eight feet, although there
is Il chance Of doing so, others on claims
near us having found near the top. About
eight feet down we come to different
wash the stones being covered with a lime
sediment, and quite white on the outside,
1t is in this wash that we pick out the dia
monds. We have gone down fourteen feet
and intend to see the bottom of it If we can,
i'll hopes of meeting something larger than
we have yet got.
We have had great revolution here, hay
ing overturned the authority OF the mis-
sionarv and elected committee of our own.
The missionary found that his thirty-five
per cent was coming very slowly in, and day
by day dwindling to nothing. His commit
tee, therefore. sent a notice round calling on
the diggers 10 pay thirty shillings cradle
per month. Upon this the diggers called a
meeting aud voted the missionary and his
committee q set of humbugs. with whom we
would have no more truck. The missionary
seemed to be trying to get behind a wagon
to hear the proceedings; but, upon being no
ticcd by those present, he ran away, expect
ing, | suppose. that he would be mobbed
But don't think any one thought Of harm
inc min.
They do not do things 50 quietly in the
free republic On the other side. The Presi-
dent appointed magistrate, Mr.. Owen,
who was one of their old committeeman
and who was to receive 5000 per ann,lm,
believe. He called meeting, and com
menced by informing them that he was
going to hoist the Transvaal flag, and that
he had forty armed men to support him;
upon which he was Immediately seized,
carried down to the river and pitched into
a boat, which conveyed him to the Free
State. His forty armed Beers took to their
heels. and were never seen again, which
was the very best thing they could do. az
they would certainly have gone into the
river instead OF over it. 1t is said that Mr..
Owen has been bought over by the Press
dent OF Transvaal, who had also tried to
buy over some other members of the COM
mittee. to have the diggings made over to
him. which enraged the disgers. as they had
already decided to support Waterboer's
claim.
Fresh ground continues to be found OH
both sides of the river, and PUSHES are tax
ing place every now and then. but as yet
no place has turned out so well as the first
kOpjc on the other side. and the first two on
the mission side. Tue cattle here are doing
very badly now. We have had to send ours
down the river to try to find grass for
them, there being nothing for them here,
1t seems to be very doubtful whether Natal
cattle will do here. or whether it would not
be- better tor parties coming here to send
their oxen back 10 where thew can get
grass Lung sickness and bush sickness
are both very bad on both sides of the
river. and numbers of cattle are diving from
that as well As starvation