The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-24


Governor on his arrival at the fields. They
were in full costume (regardlcss of expense)
consisting entirely of paper collars, which
formed striking contrast to their shining
black bodies. | am sure no city belle could
bc more proud of her silks and laces than
they were; certainty she could be no hap-
pier.
When the diamond fields were first dis.
covered digging was confined to the banks
OF the river Faal, but when the drv dig
glngs were found there was a general rush
TO them, and the river. which at one time
was filled with dig9ers, was almost totally
abandoned. These
DRY DIGGINGs.
as they arc called. consist of four koppieS
Dutch for small hilS)-viZ., New Eu.h.
Du Toit,pan, Bullfontein, and Old de Burs
TIE trSt named Of these are the largest and
the only two worth mentioning. They are
s tnated about a mile and half from cIch
other. They resemble immense pockets or
basin. and are entirely surrounded by II
sllil,y rect or rock. aud The diamonds are
found within these enclosures. That they
have been under the action of both iirc and
waller 40 man who has mined in them has Il
doubt. The wholc aspect of the ground the
burnt rock. &c, go to prove this theory.
and at the New Rush. at the depth of about
ninety feet, they have come upon solid
bite stun composed Of owir and allmniolls
earth. II resembles cold lava. My opinion
l. that these kuppics are the mouths of cX-
tlnct volcanoes; that the blue stuff is the
ashes and lava in Il hardened state; that the
Garth above this has at some remote period
been thrown out ny volcanic eruption. cX-
tn h, ,,ft fh,,, al, -
tcrwardS swept back by heavy storms of
wind aud rain, and thus formed these kop-
pies.
HOW TO DIG FOR DIAMONDS.
The digging is conducted as follows: The
earth Is first loo>ened by picks, then mashed
fine with shovels and wooden mulIIs. After
being passed through coarse and fine selves
1t Is placed upon the table aud carefully
sorted. Most OF the diamonds are easily seen
from the flash peculiar only to them. but
some come out entirely coated with black
substance aud eau ouIy be detected hy their
singular (octdhedron) shape; many are swept
OF the table. A considerable portion of tie
poorer classes earn livelihood by resort.
ing the DEBRIS, and sometimes make a lucky
stroke i'll this way. The large diamonds are
generally found In digging or in the coarse
'ei'S, lhC SibdIl OltS oU inc labiC.
When we first arrived on the fields the
population was estimated f. be between
oO,poo and $4,000, but it has dwindIetl@way
50 rapidly that. Glle>>, 25.00D would cover
1t at The present time. In fact,
plAMoSD-DIGGISG DOES NOT PAY
at The present low price of the gem, and The
high rate and scarcity of labor. Not one
digger in fifty makes money, and the ma.
loruy TO not clear expenses. Occasionally
large diamond is turned out bv some lucky
digger. This has the effect of making the
others work on and OH in the hope that
Dame Fortune would yet smile upon them,
tIntll their money is gone, and they awake
from this Rip Van Wrinkle" sleep TO the
painful fact that they are in Il foreign land
without money or friends.
We sunk GlI5 in the first claim we
worked and only realized E26. After work
ing this out we secured another claim at New
Rush, in hopes of requiring what we had
lest. When this is worked out we propose
to leave for home for we arc convinced that
the day for makin@a fortune at the diamond
fields is past. Our finds since we com,
mcnccd digging amount to about twenty -liyc
gems, but they have proved Of comparatively
little value. Some of my American friends
have been more fortunate.
TIE CLIaaTE --s ,s.#.
here is good and the fields are in healthy
condition. Life here would be cndurabl.',
and even pleasant. but for the dlst->torms
These are lri@httul and beyond human con-
ccptinn uuIc., realized. These occur three
or four times week nearly all the year
round. They generally take place in the
afternoon. aud are frequently followed by
rain. Work has 10 be suspended. and we
are compelled to seek shelter in our tents.
he fiat, and cover up until the storm is over
II We are unfortunately caught on the knp.
pie we are nearly blinded and chok,d to
death. It pcnctratc> or tents and keeps Us
continually at work cleaning mp. and we
generally get straight III time tor another
one.
We occasionally have visit from flight
of locuStS. They pass for hn,r> ut times
entirely ohscurng the sun. They are i.
plague to Africa, destroying all vcsti-es OF
vegetation wherever they ali-lt.
IN conclusion ali J have 10 say i that amy
one who ba:' ANY desire or idea OF irwin
their luck on the African dIImond field. il
they take my advice they will commit n
such suicidal ;mt.
receive the Richmond papers by every
mail, and am proud to see that ollr State i
going ahead. Aud just here | would say tt
The youn" men ct Virginia
STAY AT HOME
and don't he ltlrcd away by sensational art
clpS OF fortune 10 he made in foreign Gown
llirs; but put your shoulders to the whc"
TO build tII your native state. We hope tn,
day is not Tar distant when we will be adding
ol.r mitc to her material advancement, ant
help to place ller where she should be
through b"r resources and natural adyan
taees-une OF the finest States in Amcric,.
w, 4. WALSH.