Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-30
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lis wife discussed the situation, and re
nenbered that some months before :
sushman had passed that way. who car
led round his neck little bag in which
vas a stone, which he regarded as j.:
alisran. and which the farmer and hi
life now felt persuaded was diamond.
The Busl1man had long since gone bac'
the mountains. but one day. on Start
ng for the town where he bought hi
rovisons, Niekerk saw the fello,
rouchng against the gate.
Niekerk asked for the lucky stone
Ie soon saw it was diamond. and event
tally persuaded the Bushman to Sc
t. He took it down to Hopetown, ar
fter much negotiation the stone was sol
or s55, l0O This was fine fortune ft
Iiekerk.
The stone when cut made a brilliant G
bout a carats. Of unsurpassed Gualit.
no received the name of the "Star C
,outh Africa" 1t was ultimately sold t.
ne late Earl of Dudley Tor sl5o,o00.
IOUNDATION OF ROBINSON'S FOR
TUNE.
or course. this soon reached Mr.. Roll
nson's ears. He saw a t once that TO:
une was lying about on the ground
he Vaal river district, and he got to
ether some of his men and wagons an
rekked for the Vaal river, which
cached near Hebron.
Leaving his men and wagons on tn
urther bank. he swan the river with {:
.orse, and after considerable difficulty
or the river was in flood-he reache
he northern bank, and made for the no
i've kraals. where he was told that ;
nan had found stone. But rumor:
diamonds had reached the natives
nd they had the most extraordinar.
IDEAS of their value. Mr.. Robinso.
.ounted out ten sovereigns and offere
hem to the man for his diamond. bt
he refused them. He then offered hir
welve. but the native still said mo
chen an idea struck Robinson, who sal
How many goats will you take for tina
stoEe?"
fle frightened up at this and offered
;oH thereupon swan back across tn
liver and sent his men securing til
ne!ghboring farms for goats, and
he next day they had purchased invent
n return for which he got the damon
which is still in his possession.
AS the goats only cost Mr.. Robinsc
trifing sum, he had the best OF the b.;
gain.
Robinson Immediately brought up I
The Vaal river his fifteen hundred hea
+ cattle and large number Of white an
swiftest horses to his partner to buy T.
more wagons and 20 come at once.
EXCHANGES COWS FOR DIAMONDS
Then he set the natives to wor
searching on the surface for stones, an
Ytlen they found diamond he rewarde
Them with at OK or COW, or. in the cas-
of a specially large one. gave them
wagon.
The enthusiasm was tremendous ~
ot Of Basutos was brought up to tt
place, and taught how to distinguish dia
nords. BY this time Mr.. Robinson ha
secured. either by purchase or hire. ahor
0,OO acres of land along the river banks
The land was not worth much then. BIZ
within six weeks his Busatos. found ola
monds to- the value of $4,000, and tina
vas the commencement Of the diaman,
lelds of South Africa.
It was Mr.. Robinson who discovered.
the diamond fields on the Vaal river
Here he had great difficulty III CROSSING
the. vaal with his natives. at flrst h
constructed sort Of raft made Of bar
rels and other things. which promised Il,
float very successfully. He put good
load OF natives on it and started them
across. unfortunat ely. IN the middle OF
the stream. the raft came apart, all the
natives being thrown into tbs stream.
Mr.. Rah!uson end his foreman. wha UASe