Connecticut western news., 1872-09-06
South African Diamonds.

A miner who has just returned from the diamond fields of South Africa says:
 "A large portion of the diggers are Cape colonists and Natalians. Dutch men, Englishmen, Australians, and of course Americans. There is a sprink- ling of Frenchmen, Italians, and Span iards, Those who do we'll are generally Australians and Americans, who have had experience in mining in California and Australia. A society, remarkably mixed in it's character, has sprung up, and it is a noticeable fact that among this new gathering of old nations the better or more respectable class prevail. The fields are pretty clear of that class of roughs that infested the gold mines of Australia and California.
 eff this discovery of diamonds seems like realization of Sinbad, there is not much romance about the country. The Western lands of gold and silver (Califor- nia and Nevada) were picturesque in spite of their savagery. But the Afri- can diamond fields are flat, dreary, tree. less wastes; hot sun glearing upon white limestone hot scorching winds, dust storms. The hot winds debilitate the constitution, yet they are indispensable to life, for man cannot work or hardly breathe when they cease to blow. For four months the news from the sfelds' has been discouraging. It seems that the finds are of an inferior quality, still the quantity does not decrease.
 "For some reason what are termed the .off-color' diamonds are not fashionable, consequently they are sold at low prices particularly to the spectators who throng the fields. If fashion would condescend to pronounce these beautiful baubles the thing immense fortunes would be made. Larger stones are found in Africa than in Brazil; for in- stance, stones over 10 carats are rare in Brazil, while in the new found diggings they are numerous, and stones within 8 few carats of 100 are among the weekly finds.
 "There are the usual temptations of camp life, gambling and drinking, the latter fatal habit in such a climate Hitherto the most successful spot for operations is place called Die Toits Pass. This Sinbad's valley in less than twelvemonths became 8 town, having hotels and billiard rooms, clubs concert halls, a good library, and an American bowling alley. Life and property are secure, for the reason that there are very few of the rascaldom of Europe and pseudo-genteel idlers. If you can afford to employ Caffre labor your mode of operations will in many respects re- semble that of gold digging in the olden time of '5O-'51. The same tent life, rough working clothes, the same cook ing of food, the same dirty feeling, only varied by shive1ing in the cold and melt ing beneath a burning sun. There is occasionally the same fruitless work. We have story of man who worked day and night for many months, till at last he gave up in despair and sold the claim for $3 The purchaser the next day found very large diamond @ few inches below the depth the old man hao reached.
 "The Cafirs are net pleasant people but what they called the Dutch Boers are many degrees worse. The latter arc full of low cunning, very brutal, anG very stupid. They detest the English and the Americans, and to sw1ndle { green Englishman or a laundering Yankee is the height of their ambition , They are very lucky. A report spreads about that another 70 or 80 caret ston. has been found. Who, found it? Oh another Dutchman, is the usual answer Every thing is diamonds in these dig gings, and if a man wishes to express hi admiration of another, he says: He's clear diamond Everything is diamond
 ferrous. The auctioneers and stores offe
 you diamondiferous spade or pick,
 diamondiferous tent, bedstead, an axe and the hotels supply you with diamond ferrous drinks.
 ,, "In summer time Jour winter), yo1 want good protection against wet Il winter (our summer), plenty of protec tion against cold"