The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-11-18
AFRICAN DIAMOND Fields.
History of the Discovery of the Gems Of
Kimberley.

Kimberley (South Africa) correspond.
ent of the London Times gives an interest
ing description of the diamond mines
there
Among the curiosities of commerce
none, perhaps, is more curious than that
the major portion of the produce exported
from South Africa is simply used for the
adornment of ladies. Out of a total value
exported of f7,500,000, ostrich feathers
and diamonds account for $4,000, 900.
Twenty years ago all known diamonds had
come to Europe or the United States from
immemorial Eastern stocks or from the
scanty produce of mines in Brazil and else
where, which were calculated to yield not
more than $500 worth in the year. To-
day, situated in the midst of wide stretch
ing plain, affording at all points sea line
horizon of flat veidt,n we find this town
OF Kimberley, with large European popu-
htion Of wealthy and well to-do-people, and
large native population earning every year
more than 81 200, 600 in wages. And from
this mining oasis in the agricultural desert
has been sent in the last fifteen years some.
thing like $40, 900, 900 worth of diamonds
in the rough, which, with the cost of cut
ting, setting and selling, must have taken
from the pockets of consumers something
approaching f100,000,000.
As all the world knows, the South Afri-
can diamond mines have their own story of
unexpected discovery, at the least as start
ling as that of any gold field or other rich
mineral deposit in the world In 1867 the
first diamond was found, the favorite toy of
little Boer girl, which she picked out from
among the roots of an old tree. Its genuine.
ness was not long in doubt, and in few
months the bed of the Vaal River was known
rs profitable diamond region. Prospect
ing became the rage, and here and there on
the open, fiat, grassy veidt diamonds were
found in spots, with common peculiarities
of soil and so forth.
In three years time the secret of the dia-
mond deposits had been so far fathomed as
to prove that they were strange circular de-
posts or pitches of peculiar earth, isolated
from one another and few in number
These were at once rushed, and a regula-
ton digging community took possession of
the new district Private individuals, prey
ious proprietors and governments fought
for the claims to these new mineral riches,
but despite these squabbles the practical
work was carried on of marking out these
circular patches in diggers' claims over the
Hat surface. At first the rule was each dig.
ger for himself; and with pick and shovel
diamonds were brought to grass in such
profusion that the whole mining world was
startled by discovery exceeding in magni-
tude-real and prospective-any previous
ind. But, as men dug deeper into their
claims, SO they found it necessary to arrange
ID amalgamate with their neighbors--
moreover, the deeper they went the more
necessary it became to use machinery to
hoist the soil to the surface. And then, ms
they passed on through the top yellow, u
they came upon " blue" soil which was
yet more rich in diamonds.
Suffice it to say that in ten years. time
each one of these greater circular areas has
been so iar emptied of soil as to represent
great quarries 100 to 200 yards across and
800 or 400 ftt deep.