The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-02-04
AFRlCA'S GOLDEN SANDS.
A California Miners Experience In
the Land of the Boers-The Fa-
mona nfamOud Fields.

nous Diamond F1clOS.
A gentleman identified with mines
and mining on this coast for the past
TWENTY-FIVE years, has just arrived in
this city, says The San Francisco Alta,
from a two years trip through South
Africa, exploring and prospecting that
country in search of some OF the rich
mines that have been reported to exist
there. An Alta reporter called on the
gentleman last evening at the Baldwin
hotel, and learned from him something
of the extended tour he has just COM
pleted. He left here in January, 1884,
travelling direct to England, sailing
from Southampton on board packet
for Cape Town. The trip down the
coast Of Africa he describes as having
been. extremely pleasant, especially
while passing through the group CT
Canary islands The first stop made
was at Funchal Madeira, an island in
habited exclusively by Portuguese, the
only industry apparently being wine
culture and wine-making. Leaving the
Canary group and the towering peak OF
Teneriffe to the north, the packet hug
ged the western coast of Africa closely
until Cape Verde was sighted. From
there the land was lost sight of until
their arrival at the island of st. Helena,
at which point stop of few hours
was made.
The stay was long enough to enable
those who desired to visit Longwood,
the last home of Napoleon, and the
tomb which held his remains for twenty
years. The traveller gave very inter-
esting account of this historic spot,
showing that the place is still cared for
and preserved.
'Longwood, said the gentleman,
.'hardly bears the marks of its age and
it looks as fresh as if but recently built.
Leaving the island we proceeded direct
ly south to Cape Town, distance OF
1000 miles, where we arrived in few
days. Cape Town is place of $4,000
inhabitants, the Dutch or beers predomi-
mating. There are many modern build
ings there, including the new parlia
ment building constructed this year by
the English government. This place
reminded me somewhat of an old Span
ish settlement, much of the apathy of
that race of people existing among the
residents of Cape Town. There are
several banks in the town which are
substantial institutions, and the hotels
are well built and furnish fair accom-
modations. The suburbs of the city are
very handsome, especially the drive to
Highconstantia, which is broad road
lined on either side with tall, heavy oak
trees, which arch the road and entirely
exclude the burning rays of the sun.
The climate of this place is similar to
that of Los Angeles, with the exception
of the heavy southeast winds, which
prevail at certain seasons of the year.
"After remaining in Cape Town a
few days / took steamer and went up
the east coast of the continent to Mos
sci Bay, town of one thousand inhabi-
tants. The coast here is similar to that
of Lower California, and is rather bar
rem, bleak and unproductive. The next
place we touched at was Port Elizabeth,
city of twelve or fifteen thousand in
habitants, and rivals Cape Town as an
exporting point for woods, hides, and os-
trich feathers. The population consists
principally of English and German. A
narrow-gauge railroad leads from the
town three hundred miles into the inter-
ior. and connects with line running
from Cape Town northward to Hope
Town, on the Orange river, on the
southerly boundary of the Orange Free
States, a Dutch republic. The road is
70 be extended during tie coming year
20 Kimberly, the principal town in the
diamond fields. The next place we
;ouched at was East London, which
contains ten thousand whites and
large native population. This section
Of the country is the most fertile and
productive of any in the Cape colony.
Durham, in the colony of Natal, was
our destination ON the coast, and
shortly after we arrived there we en-
gagged mule teams and started for the
gold-fields in earnest. We travelled
through Maritzburg, the capital of Ma
tai Colony, which is seventy-five miles
inland, and has population of three
thousand. 1t is a fertile section, and
produces an abundance of hides and
wool for the European market. We
travelled from Maritzburg, Lydenburg,
and through Solenso and Newcastle.
Here we reached an altitude of five
thousand feet, and were about fifty
miles south of the boundary between
the Natal and Transavaal colonies.
The country here is similar to the Platte
valley, is essentially grassy but tree
less tract, and is we'll watered. The
Transvaal river running through it also
resembles the Platte river.
''From Lydenburg to Pilgrims Rest
is distance of fifty miles, and at this
point are located the far-famed African
gold-mines, and here gold was first dis
covered. The mines extend from Pill
grim's Rest to Mac Mac, distant eight
miles, and to Spitzkoop, a few miles
further. The diggings are entirely al
luvial or placer. and were first discov-
cred in 1872. Since that time about
$2,OOO,O0O in gold has been shipped
from them. They are located on the
eastern slope Of the Daackensburg
range of mountains, and are near to a
splendid stream of water. One hum
dred miles southeast of Pilgrims Rest
are the Dekaap mines, from which has
been shipped during the same
period $500,00O. The Dekaap
mines are quartz, and consist of an
oxidized deposit from twenty to forty
feet in width, developed by cross-cuts
and shifts for distance of five hundred
feet in length and to depth of fifty
feet, and will mill an ounce and half
to the ton. These mines are the finest
have seen for fifteen years past. Forty
miles south of here is mine discovered
by an Englishman named Moody. This
man owned at the time of his discovery
thirteen farms, and since then has sold
half interest for 100000 sterling. The
mine is quartz. and mills from an ounce
to three ounces to the ton. There are
several quartz mills already built here
and more are contemplated.
''On my return trip l passed down
through the famous diamond fields.
Diamonds were first discovered on the
banks of the Vaal river, and the area
since worked extends for distance of
fifty or sixty miles. The mines are
circular and are from 800 to 1900 feet
across. The diamondiferous earth is
oxidized, or decomposed, and is of
reddish brown color; but after it has
been burned its color changes to blue,