Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-07

be seen from the railroad, and every one pre-
sents the same characteristic, that Of having
fat and level tops which look exactly as
though they had been cut off by some artlh-
cial means. The tops of mountains OF the
same height appear to be cut off at about the
same distance from the base. The geology
of this part of Africa as we'll as
that of other parts which I have visited
seems to be very interesting. The same may
be said of the zoology, botany and anthro-
pology of Africa. 1t is Ignorance OF these
branches OF science as we'll as of the history
of Africa that makes it the Dark Continent.
STORY OF A DIAMOND.
Kimberley was reached at o'clock. April
II. On one summers day of 1867 white
man going along the road noticed a native
boy playing with brilliant stone which he
took from him. This stone was sfterward
found to be diamond. To-day the spot
where that occurred is covered with city
of ten or twelve thousand Inhabitants, all
the result OF the brilliant stone which the
native boy found. A large number of dia-
monds were found and there are to-day some
half-dozen mines, all doing a large business.
The mines are very rich and turn out more
diamonds than any others in the world; In
fact so many diamonds have been found
supply is now being limited.
The total value of the Diamonds taken
from the Kimberley mines has been esti-
mated at the enormous sum of e3, 900, 900
per year for fifteen years. So the total
value is fully S135, 100000 The weight of
the diamonds representing this value is
about nine tons. The largest diamond ever
found weighed 400 carats, but it was not q
frst-class stone. Two stones weighing $50
carats each were found, and ore of these was
valued at $500 900. The men employed in
the diamond mines number between 5000
and 5000.
TRAVELLING BEHIND OXEN.
Our party lett Kimberly for 250 miles
trip in an OK wagon. All travelling in the in
terror of South Africa is done in large wagons
drawn by oxen. The wagons are very high,
heavy and about 20 feet long; three or four
tons would be considered an average load
where the roads are not too rough. Eigh-
oxen constitute an ordinary span for
such load, but often more are required.
The journey to Mafeking occupied 19
teen DAYS. but without delay it should be
done in 15 An average OF Is or 20 miles per
day is considered good travelling, or trek
king" to use the Dutch term. Two and
hall miles an hour is as fast time as can
belmsde with heavy load, and "trek"
should not last longer than four hours at a
time. The proper time for "trekking'' is in
the night
Up to this date we have travelled $50
miles. After few days rest we shall move
again for camp 400 miles north of here.
After another short stop for recruits. arms
and provisions, we begin the final journey
to Mashonaland. Our destination is less
than 100 miles south of the Zambesi river
about 1000 miles from this place. This
makes distance of 200 miles to be trav-
eled in an OK wagon. Nothing can be said
with accuracy concerning the time which
will be required for this journey. The fact
that there is no road for 600 miles, and the
probability of our being compelled to con-
tend with hostile natives. have to be con-
sidered. CLAIRE A. ORR.