The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-14
AFRrCAps DraxOND FIELDS.
What the Geographical Society Learned
about Them Last Evening.

Tn introducing DR.. VIM. J. Morton TO
large assembly of the membcre of the American
Gcogru phical Soclctyand their friends at Chick
criug Han. last uight, Chief Justice DAILY an
nounccd as the subject of the evenings lecture
South African Diamond Fields. and the Jour
ncy 10 thu Min ~" adding that fl500O 900
worth Of diamonds had already boon taken
from these iigI.nss.
DR.. Morton. who has recently returned from
a two years soiourn in South Africa. gave an
interesting d,s,rl riion 81 his trip from Cape
Town t. Lhs diamond ilelds sometimes pass ing
through srcncs vi eurplssng beauty and At
others tra,rr-ing imncnao arid plains. wnerc
the road WIS marked out 10y the bloaohod bones
of hors 4 and oxen.
Tho diamond minca, h" said, were discovered
by traveller John q Reilly, who staying for 70
night at the house OF u Dutch farmer observed
tho children plaving with suma nchbl.s lie
said. "TuosH might be dHmonls' The
farmer nuzhing replied that If they were
plenty of thrm could BE- found n the noighhor-
houd. O ltuly took on' oi the pebbles. and
subsequently sold IL for $4,000. A colon ST thDn
remembered that ne had seen an immense
-tnu., ot sfuil1r Ips,r p'ion in the hnu,ls OF n
uauVa lie sought ont the man. gave him all
his cattle. horses ant other property for the
-rm. and sold it for so1OuO Tnis diamond
ulf.rw1rl hrglm' tn9wn throughout the world
as the StHr oi South NriDn.
Ase,tung popuaiion WIS soon upon the spot.
tn" farmers. spit thtir prot sis, saw tnrr
value whose W. nth they mad newer suspected
carried away. Finally tNn British Government ut
adIulientrd nll minor lisputts hy unncNin-, the
rutirc diamond producing country. and pro-
claiming II I'm AN English possession. II WAS
not long before Nimb 'rly 20 city that has now
moro tn"n a thousand homes, sprang into ex-
sl nee.
The lecturer dwet upon thc extraordinarily
mixed population Of Kimberly. and especially
tn" wandering tribes of negroes who pour into
7 u ~ the rif' off 3nOln YEAR. Travelling in
PARTIES ot fifteen or twenty. often over "A dis
tlurr of 70 thousand mules. IN the course ol
winch muny oi them disc of thirst and Starva-
ton. these wanderers enter the city dusty. foot
sNir. ana uS Tim as rails. Ihey appropriate
rt..rrly every urtlcls of apparel they can pick uI
upun the way. one appears ma % hat. without
any iurthnr covering; another wears u slngl,
huot. uur relieved hy other adurn mrnis. IN,
/ brown ItE- ~ some ar" H'"n Ni"i.niiy contrast
inn with th" skirts Of 20 bright rei English mill
ttcy coat. while. othrrS are ,OntentHd to rg'z
th"ir claims p, gcntlitv on the poss ssion ~ d
kin.5.ry however, rs wv no means devoid o
/ Tie Injuries of civilization. II huasts many r..
/ Cape Town and Natal reserve tncir choices
I mr's and most expensive goods Tor the WNo,
and duugr 'rr oi ihe wealthy Spectators of the
DR.. Morton .Nplanca the manner II working
i tir mln't. Wuirn, ~" says r. largely don" WITT
| the hired aid Of knnir-. These men are eNpor
| thltNs4. and. dr-nl' tho closest rutInv. thu
| diamonds ~t INTO tNnir pipes. tl,lr tnrs. thril
| mouths and oven their nos -. They can WORK
! all lay with large p"hhns Do tween their toes.
! Diamonds of thr first quality are very rare
| there IT, one KIM that exhibits "a flaw half az
! hour after h"inr tak'n from The mine. and. /
! lri, UNTIL morning. VIII b" found IN fragments
] SUN stones are usually wrapped ia cotton an'
] placed ga ui hy ti' min 90 uni the moment %
/ sale tn" expense of working rlHum are
/ exclusive of IA" original Iur7hus'. uhnut $500
/ NuiI. hui r'itrn~ arr rIuiI. ana % man Wiu
+ capital of $1,000 or $1,000 has an eNcv..cn
/ Aio'r Tic lecture the audience was cntortaine
/ WIN Au iii 'rr-i ny rus 81 -ifr'o 'inn view