The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-27
HOME OF THE DIAMOND.
FAMOUS FIELDS AND MINES IN SOUTH
AMERICA AND AFRICA.
Now the Precious stones We're First Dis.
covered Searching tho stomachs Of
Slaughtered Amin, Gem.
which We're bought for Small Sums

were very productive Of stones Of vrca,
sic and brilliancy. Asia controlled Tho
diamond markets for years, and onl,
lost is hold when, early in the cieh
fccnth ccntuyy, somo natives of Brazil
were found playi~g at cards. They were
using stones for counters, and these stoves
were rough, but very valuable, diamond.
This was in province OF Miaas Geraes
IN which mines were worked al early as
i,20. and whero diamonds arc still
found.
When tho news Of tho first discovery
spread there was a rush Of fortune hunt
crs 90 Brazil, and gems were hunted in
very singular style. Every bird that
came within range was shot, and the
contents Of its craw Inspected with
greedy cagcrnoss and often with great
success Small diamonds were also oc-
casionally found in the stomachs OF
slaughtered animals. and this led 10 a
careful ovorhauling Of every carcass.
ON one occasion a gem Of seven carats
was found in the tangled locks Of anegfo
slave Scores Of slaves had their wool
shaved of at once, but no diamonds
vcro found by the BARRIERS.
While the ignorant were hunting in
this irregular manner and trusting TO
chance the moro experienced were dig
cng mines Tho best diamonds were
foanl near the surface, and only ten or
twelve feet Of soil was removed. The
s..l was of the usual diamond indicating
nature u was piled in small heaps by
fIa side Of "a natural or artificial stream,
and washed IN long troughs by slaves
The ovcrsecrs occupied seats on elevated
GROUND OBJ ON stands erected for the pur
pose. and were able 10 watch the washers
very closely.
Tho slaves washed with great care, for
thc finding Of q diamond Of eighteen or
moro carais wasrcwardcd with freedom,
and many hundred slaves were lucky
enough Co secure their papers in this
manner. ln 1854 the Bahia mines were
discovered. and more recently diamonds
Ilvo been found bon many other provinces
OF GRAIL i'm some years the value Of the
gems exported has exceeded $1,000, 600,
of recent years. however, the output has
not been 50 heavy. At first Brazilian
diamonds were not popular in Europe,
and there was au idea that they wero off
iu hrilliancy and generally inferior 10 the
Asltic article. But this was evidently
mere prejudice. for some Of the South
american gems have q world wide repu-
tf0n. The "Star Of the South, an ir-
regular dodecahedron, weighed l2i carats
when cut, and an octahedron, found in
tle same mine. weighed nearly as much.
The great diamond fields Of today are
ia South Africa. where the production
las been SD great as to cause apprehon-
s'ons as 10 the maintenance Of prices.
in lS6s John O'Rcilly, while travelling in
the Iransyaal, ate dinner at the house Of
"a settler named Nelkirk. On the table
there was collection Of Orange river
stones. and O'Reilly selected one which
he believed 10 hc a diamond, and asked
"a he might take IT, He was referred 10
iis owner. bushman named Jacobs. who
parted with IL without moments con
sideration. Mr.. ORcilly sent the stone
10 DR.. Athorstonc. of Graham Town, and
received s. 800 for il. The gem weighed
pa Carats, and wason view at the Paris
exhibition. ORelly sud Acting Civil
Commissioner Bovcs used the s. 500 as
working capital. and commenced pros
lectng tour after diamonds.
Others joined them. but for over two
wears their efforts were unsuccessful,
and they were unable 10 find any dia-
mnriferous earth But in 1869 Mr..
Nekirk traded about $1,000 worth of
}ltfie for tho famous "Star of South
africa" diamond, which had been found
t.a li0tteutot. Tho trade proved an
excellent one, for the wonderful dia-
monl was speedily sold by its new
owner for $4,000. or about 40 per cent.
Of ifs value. The "Star" weighed s3t
carats in the rough and 4Gi carats when
cut 10 formed the most striking feat
me of the Countess Of Dudlcy's famous
collection Of jewels During the year
1880 the rush to the Transvaal COM
melcol. Fully 10000 miners deserted
California and Australia for South
Africa. and huge mining camps were
established iu likely and unlikely spots.
l.w of the newcomers were experts in
diamonds or diamond seeking, and for
tmelc,ults were far from encouraging.
THE Orange River Valley was exam
inei hy prospecting parties and finally
abandoned. Then there was a rush up
the Veal river TO where tho town of
Hlaiy now stands Here was the center
or ,he rich diamond district, and for
tunes were speedily made 10y some Of
te pioneers The usual drawbacks Of
mining camps- fever. famine and hos
UtDs-ooset the miners and many
Ir...l Tine nearest town was at Port
Elizabeth. over 500 miles distant. 1t
cost $500 ior teln hire and provisions,
and iue. numbers who We're without
funds stM.. ou foot only to perish 10y
OIL. uaF Ihe contcyances were heavy
wagons. very stoutly built and without
.Nu-. N0t less than eight span Of
I.'N A, had io Doe hiichcd tOeach wagon
M... Ial o. Doe dragged over rocks,
a.fN-. Iter, ami through forests, Jerk
iH- fIe riders Oh their seats and destroy
lt- tNe baggage Explosives could not
0. NluieI| owing 10 the conclusion.
I.e road now IS easier 10 travel, ana a
railroad has been built along it, the re-
W.l being many more luXurics and com
i.r. ilI tlc miners; but in the EOS the
n.n.l, lie was "a hazardous one, and
although several got rich, many more
either died in the camps or went home
l.tlllcl.
Ihe first five mines in operation were
ta DE- Beers, Dutoltspan. Bullfontein,
l..-ufr. kopsic and Kimberley. These
nl. held first place in importance
against al rivals. and have recently been
i0'. riHfr.el into syndicate controlled
N f4e DE Beer, Consolidated Mine COM
I4lE-St. Louis Globe-DemOcrat.
an
Thought II Was Meant for Him.
Just before the train going east left
Buffalo "A heavy SET. red headed man