Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-08-20
Scenes in Kimberley, the Diamond
kscminn Oi SOulh AFRICA.

Region 0i south Africa.
The hotels OF Kimberley arc provided with
large "oar" at which liquors are sold, bill
lard room and long dining hall, and ranelog
down on either side CT the dining room series
Of little bedrooms narrow, cohia shaped
chambers. contaioing a bed, a chair, wash
s,a1d aud 4 trunk. At the hotel, and at the
better class Ct cantcc1s, are met the n)allhg
population and tho men OF leisure about to"o.
the latter apparently permanent tiyturca CT the
place. BusiuAss. i. C., drinking begias carly
and coutiGu IS until it is early again.
Certainly Kimberley IS the heaven Ct lhc
grntemaniy IOalGr, VINO, on ona tX:uie or
another, does no work. and trust to his bright
particular atar Tor bread, chlts., meat ard
drinks. Never d0whc,5t, mover dcsponden.,
always plausible, no seems to have horror OF
becoming Il monaicc; be would have 1t un'
deratO0d that ho is about to embark IN some
grand pr ,ct-pGrhaps to turn the aai
River aside ard search its bed lor diamonds, ur
lead water through pipes into Kimberley from
the same river thirty miles distant, or pump
Lho miuo GrY, OF open "a coal or lead minc' or
80 inio ostrich farming, or MP cIu1lfy traolo''
In the m2an!iuc wont y0u back his blll Tor
small $lUj." Or cur mornlug irend rs on'y
waiting l,r the mail, and "eXpec:s remit
tascJ from hcmc Directly Strange how long
that remittance is 10 coming. "ContoundeI
bad postal arrangements IN these wIlGS. you
know" lie is "soiog in for washng, and
wants TO make Il new START" he ia 'gong 10
pull up'' an,! go ia for making money now.
Il "hvtr' would ublgo him, About the hotel
he makes trade good; treats his creditors witl'
kindness and with drinks; Says "Putit down 20
me-" as if M credit over the bar wa1
aovcr written Tor hin! Scans his bill 10 cln
te,nptuols way through his eycgIasS, ,aud hna'ly.
,phcu the last card Is played, saunters oil {"
pastures Eew. leaving widowed conitltu2n1y
with depleted pockets TO mourn his departure.
Bat outnunl boring manifold these ornaments
10 society nrc the oGilgghrs in n'molesk m trow5erd.
lanne shirts, and broad hat twned around with
u pugrercc. By 'diggtr" must bo underst 10;
claim holder and director OF his own or anoth-
or's mining operations lIo seldom touchoa
PICK or 1.uyol far bettcrto use his oyes and pre-
vent tho negroes working under him from steal.
ing. Ho has ust come up out OF The mine ALL
down into tho street Il moment lor new ropa.
pick or bUckGt, and stops for chat. l,ian%nt7'
claims, lints aro the al absorbing tonic. HAY
ing ordered with some mata spill, ths irsl IN,
n,iiry il, "Any finds today or rs tho ms.
.n?' and Are diamonds up or down.? Ih'
sLa!o Of tho ruul is discussed, and lho progress o.
pumping operations. Here perhaps, sou'p oo
bought claim yesterday in which they hadn't
psid expenses for three months and found diA
mond w0I tn g. ON this morning botore br2ai'
fast" Very likely Brown enters At this monioh:
and sLrAitway ''wats his iiGd' to the extent -
standing treat ali around to champagne. lap'
py man if this wcro All ho spc!t, bu. easy c'a!H
eSsy 60" applies to his money rs wnl n. t"
thai ul o!hn. gamblers. In suCh an assembly
ono bears discussed msny turns in tho wheel "i
fortune.
Perhaps whist strikes one at !i's! the most oId
lv Is tho careless manner in which diamoLdi
arc handed about and displayed. Drawing forth
from his pocket u little metal or wooden msleh-
box tho digger OUcnS IL ~ show his 'hAds. ~
is full of diamond, Cf oil szos and qualities last
rs they have como from tho Rrollnd, luatron!
and glowing with their sJlL white or yo!io"
liehte. The D0x is passed around tho crowd quit'
out of sighto It's owner, different gems arc takoa
out of il and admired, and it is finally returnol
quite US i. left him. Another draws from hl:
lrowsecs' pocket u handful Of good sized stonos
and lays thom down upon tho Table. Ono by "n'
they urc taken up and distributed about I'll,
crowd present for inspection, tho cwnnr qlI'liy
awaiting Their return from the different quartnl.
of tho rDocl, I4Ito undis.urOed Ms to tao safely
Of his property they oil come back. SlpplHE
his thumb and lager into q slde vest poe Kc'. IS
frc:h conner pulls out perfect bcauly-A hund'
rcd carat yellow, a. large % marble, lar brigh-
ter and moro lu3trous than any cut glass cryi.
LAl alaa worth now at the depreclatcd p:cu "I
"on' Color" not moro than S5OtW.-l tho day
bofore 'oil color" woro p!entIlu!ly found. worth
$50 co.. This too il passed freely about. Thoro l.
no danger OF the gems being stolen, because tn"
whole community IS 'commt!eo OF publ:
safety" mnd caanot Afford to alIrw dishonesty.
10 stG. - ncilamond would be like horse stealing
u our western cOunt:y--iG Is stealing Dlah r
life and tho Cri .!D s 50 hcnOus and SO nearly al
fects every ono th.t gl hro equally intnrn'tno
in pun.hing i!-Ur. .M,rto". ~ Se"tem'e|
SCribt'r.