The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-09-30
been found there in a formation closely

been found there In formation closely
mines, however, like most Others have
never been worked sys ematically, and
the general corruption prevalent in
every deparI ment of the Russian Gov
eminent encourages the belief that
large numbers OF the stones are stolen
by the employees
In 1868 the adventures of the world
were excited by reports OF the discovery
of diamonds In South Africa. AS else.
where, the discovery was by the M rest
accident A lite boy paying on the
banks Of the Orange River found bright
stone, which he used as q p!aything. Its
value was not suspected, and IL lay about
the house, until one day hunter passed
through, and recognizing the gem pur-
chased it for a small sum, despite the
boy remonstranccs had an examination
made OF it, and IL proved. when cut, to
be a diamond of II carats and excel ent
brilliancy. Search was made, with the
usual result, and So extensive. were the
diamond fields found to be that at pres
ent UPWARDS of 9, 900 persons are engaged
in the mii.es along the Orange and Vaal
Rivers A remarkable feature Of
South African mines is the large
size of the stones produced; over
100 have teen found exceed
ing thirty carats in weight, and many
over twenty Nearly all, however. are
yellow, and the effect Of the South Afri-
can discoveries was TO reduce the price
OF vel ow stones TO about one-fourth
their former figure. The diamond dig
gings OF South Africa co or an area Of
about 10000 square miles, the whole Of
which was at once claimed by Great
Britain and annexed as soon as its value
was discovered. IN one important re-
spect the South African diggings are
different from those of other regions, for
in Africa the diamonds are found from
the surface to depth OF upward of one
hundred feet. AS rue the diamond
strata lie close 10 the surface, but in the
South African mines the contrary is the
case, and better gems are found from
eighty to one hundred feet below the
surface than are found in the early
stages of the work.
The method of working the mines is
exceedingly primitive. A claim is staked;
all the earth is removed one bucketful al
a time, and carefully sifted for the da-
monds it may contain The labor is done
by bIa ks, who before going 10 work are
ucpTlNe Vi ali JllclT ClObniHS, anu lbPT
leaving the mine are carefully searched
lest they should steal the product of the
days labor. Extreme care is necessary,
for the diamond comprises so much value
in so little bulk, that it is quite possible
for a dishonest emp.oye, unless care 'ully
WATCHED, to carry away many thousand
dollars worth Of gems. livery mine
owner, however, is provided with emet-
les, and the negro suspected of swallow-
ing gems is promptly doctored. In,spte
of the utmost precautions, however, en-
ployers are subjected to great loss on ac-
count of thefts by the 'aborers, and in
every mining camp there were dishonest
dealers who would buy the stones from
the blacks at small part of their va ne,
and then smuggle them out Of the neigh
borhOod. Finding that watching the ne
grocs was Of no avail, the mine owners
went to the root of the evil, hung two or
three dea ers caught in the act Of pur-
chasing stolen stones, ordered others out
of tho camp, and thus, for time at
leart, stopped the evil.