The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-01-26
From the DtIIlnond Fields.
A BaRaIO Boy in Luck-SOme Facts
as 10 Life al tEae DiggEBEs.


as TO Life al tEae DiggiDgs.
From the Buffalo Commercial, January g. /
We announced yesterday OF the arri-
val OF Mr.. VIM. Z. Burns from the dia-
mCLd fields of South Africa, and are
now able To give some particulars.
CLEANED from a brief interview. of his
inter esting experience il that latest FL
dorado. Mr. Burns left this city last
winter, and arrived at 1.-THE diggines
about the first of May last. At that
time the diggings on the river Vaal
were beginning to be abandoned for
The dry diggings inland. De Beers had
just been y OSpecLed, and after eudur-
ing some hard times for lack OF suffi-
Gent capital, and by dint Of friendly
aid from stranger who admired his
pluck, Mr.. Burns managed to get in
and secure claims in that richest por-
ton of the diamOndiferOus country.
Diamonds, Mr.. Burns informs us are
chiefly obtained by digging in what are
called Hopes pronounced copies), or
small knobs which rise from the sandy
stretches Of the TransVaal country
The HoEje at De Beers is about thirty
five ieeJ high and large enough to ac-
OmmOdate from i've to six hundred
claims of thirty feet square each.
When it is remembered that there are
about fifteen thousand persons at De
Beers. it will be seen that good claims
must be scarce and in demand. In
fact, some diggers make arrangements
by which they are permitted to carry
away earth by the sackful from the
KoEJe, which earth they slit and pick
over at distance.
The surface of the diamond region is
sand OF varying depth. Then comes a
hard ca]careOuS cOngIOmerate, OF which
q couple of feet have TO be labOriOusly
cut through. Strata of gravel, and,
shale, in which diamonds are fOund.
are next reached. The actual idigging
is mostly done by Caffres, who can be
hired for about an English pound per
month, and who are very industrious
and honest. The fact that they are not
allowed to own or sell diamonds, under
heavy penalties for an Infringement of
this law, doubtless adds to their hon
esty.
Living is much cheaper at the dig
| gings than might be supposed. Mr..
Burns kept an establishment going.
consisting of three Kaffres and two
whites, for 500 a month, the food being
chiefly coarse, black bread and'plentv of
butcher meat. Water costs 50 so per
cask, the sinking of wells having been
| postponed for more important business
merly inhabited only by stock raisers.
of Dutch descent, whose cattle and
sheep obtained subsistence on the thin
wire-g grass OF the region, but frequent
" suffered for lack of water DURING
the months of our summer the niuh :
are cold and the days are very warm.
The country, being more than 6 GOO feet
above the sea level, is extremely
healthy.
May to October inclusive, and MANAGED
| to accumulate about 10 gems, VARYING
| from One-quaTfer ola carat to TWENTY
| seven carats in size. His most valuable
! find brought him $3.50 in London
| The diamonds of South Africa. as is
| well known, mostly incline 10 a straw
| color in hue, and, as the supply has
| been immense, this variety of stone has
fallen prOdigiOusly in value.
Lest our naders should be attacked
with the diamond fever, we have to add
the sad fact that Mr.. Burns good for
| tune is by no means i fair sample of the
luck usually met at the diggings, He
tells us that not more than two persons
out of a hundred, on an average, sue
coed in making handsome thing out
of the business. Many suffer and toll
for months and are glad at last to get
away Penniless. In fact, no one ought
to go who has not some capital on
which to live while he is trying his
luck.
a better and shorter route to the dry
diggiugs than that by Cape Town has
been Opered from Port Elizabeth, on
the east coast. An American has put
on line OF coaches from that place to
the diggings, a distance of about six
hun bred miles inland. From Cape
Town the distance is seven hundred
and fifty miles. Mr., Burns made the
journey in eight days and a half to
Cape Town, and in thirty-two days
thence, by English steamer, to London
There he disposed Of nearly all his jew
els at handsome figure. We cOngrat-
late him, and are bound to say he de-
serves this luck.