The New York herald., 1873-12-09
GoLDl GoLDn
~Thc Poor Mans Diggings"
Of South Africa.
THE THREE RICH FIELcS.
some Very Heavy Mug
gets Found.

IN many parts OF the world. concise and reliable
account OF them may be acceptable 10 the readers
OF the NEW York HERALD. The writer II possessed
Of rerfectly trustworthy Information on the suhlec
Win which he deals and he can vouch tor the ACT
vuracy OF his remarks.
The present known gold fields OF South Africa
that is those proved to be worthy OF the name-are
shree in number. Will speak OF them m the order
IN winch they were discovered.
First come the gold relds OF the Tau River, ON
the borders on Matabili land, 1000 miles %
inland. These fields we're discovered about Owe o.
six years ago by Carl Mauch the celebrated tray-
cller and explorer Of this Continent The de-
scrption at first given OF the fields by
Nauch and others has since been proved 10
have been greatly exaggerated. The quartz reefs
were said TO be dazzling with their excessive rich-
ness. and payable alluyial deposits were an
nounced. The exaggerated reports got down 20
Natal and the Cape colony, and thence were, 10y
means Of the press, disseminated throughout the
world. They caused profound sensation m
Australia, from which country hundreds OF diggers
nOcked to this colony. On arrival here they
found as we had discovered very shortly before,
that the description OF the gold fields had been
greatly exaggerated that, In TACT, the value OF the
discoveries was, as yet, not proved. In their dis
appointment many OF them returned at once To
their own country. Some 80 or 40, however, re-
solved to go TO the fields and give them trial.
A public company was formed here and the money
subscribed to send the Australians on 10 the Tat.
We sent them on. We heard from them alter their
arrival there. We learned from them that the
alluvia diggings were q myth, hut that the
quartz reefs would pay to work. Then came de-
mands from the Australians for expensive machine
ny TO work the reels. But as the people down here
die not like TO venture any more capital in the
speculation, the company went to the dogs and
the connection with the Australians ceased. After
that we heard but little OF or from them. They
were said 10 be doing well al the dggings, but this
we had only on hearsay.
Meantime Sir John Swinburne, an English Dar-
onet. appears on the scene. He comes with large
capital at his back proceeds to the Tati and after
some time. by means Of his gold and his influence,
gets "concession" OF all the gold reefs at the Tati
from Lo Bengula, the King of the Matabili people.
Sir John forms an English company, and the Tsti
disappears from the scene as public gold field. 1t
is in the hands OF the company still. and, reports
be true, its working is paying well.
THE DEED OF GRANT.
The following a copy Of the "Deed OF Grant, Of
the fields made by the King Lo Bengula to Sir John
SwinDurne:-
Know all men by these presents that the 9th day of
King Of the Amandabee nation did upon the terms and
conditions he1s1a'eg Gnncned grant e sir John
England his heirs executors and assigns sole right and
situate between the Tan and Rsmakhuoban Rivers to
hold sseP @ and work until the said 81.
shall ts Is Tlshfn to % @ H. the SAID
titles Or designaaons OF Jacket Ramakhuo6an Pic.
nssr. New Zealand "a and Fly 1 Blow mines The exsntof
shall Ee % OF $50 yards length BY the
Further hereby give and grant permission and right
20 the ssid sr John swinburne Bart his hers execa
Si. or h, his g. he special Ms use saeent land on the
o Of nscy ana together 0r w G
right Of leading ont and using the waters Of the said two
s or or so S %
lively conducting quartz mining ana crushing opera
And further Lo Bens1s: King Of the Amandabsls &
duly isilhiny paid myself or my agent do hereby
bind myself e protect by force or other wise Sir John
poyss in ths OCCUPATION and Of all the rights
i further ordered BY tina. the terms and condi
executors and assigns shall hold and enjoy the mines aud
%encins the date seoY oi thu deed
,ss
His marx.
THE GOLD DISCOVERY AT MARABAsTADT
was about 100 miles northeast OF Pretoria the cap
ital Of the Transvaa Republic, and about 500 miles
from Durham, port Of Natal The gold discovered
there IS in quartz reefs. farm called Eerstell-
ing, belonging to Mr. Edward Sutton in the Trans
vaal Republic territory. The first rect was dis
covered some three years ago. and as it was stated
and appeared to be very rich the discovery created
quite a .nlrore on this continent. The farm was
further prospected and two more reefs botn prom
Using well, were discovered. Mr.. Button collected
specimens OF the quartz and left for England, with
10 a fho
quartz reefs. He succeeded in forming the COM
pany and returned to this colony with powerful and
expensive quartz crushing machinery. That is
now being put together at the MaraDastadt gold
fields, and Is expected to be In working
order very soon. large quantity OF quartz
has been excavated and is ready for crushing. 1t
looks very rich, and it Is generally believed that
the Marabastadt gold fields will pay Handsomely;
but they must be left to the company-no "hand
diggers," or poor diggers," as they are called
ran make living there. The gold is in reefs;
there are no alluvial deposits. One OF the reefs
has been traced to an extent OF 1000 yards. 1t is
thick all the way, and the quartz looks rich In
gold. Borings have been made on other parts OF the
farm, which is about 5000 acres In extent and in
several places quartz reefs have been struck. There
can be no doubt but the farms Of the whole dis
srict are rich in goldbearng quartz but operations
snere must forever be confined to large CON-
panies Win plenty OF capital at their back. The
old-bearfng reels are supposed to extend west
southwest across the Republic.
The 'poor mans diggings,n or the auvial dig
9irgs, were the third discovery. We now come 10
chem. They, also, are situated in the Transyaal
Republic, in district called Leydenpurg. They are
about 40 miles from Durham, seaport OF NataI.
but only $50 miles from Lorenzo Marques, the port
OF Delagoa Bay, one OF the Portuguese settlements
On the northeast coast OF this continent They are
200 miles east Of Marabastadt. They are called
the Leydenburg gold nelds and have been diseoy.
erec only about year. They have been believed
An only within the last few months. The discov.
cries were at first reported by men who owned
farms In the district, and that was the reason why
no faith was put in them. But further research
has removed this disbelief
The LIE vde N hurU nisfrlrf.