The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-27


and was a diamond cutter, learned later.
for the great Jewish diamond merchants
In Hatton Gardens, who are called 81. ID.
T." illicit diamond buyers), II being a
very grave offence in England. as it is
here, to smusgle in diamonds that have
not paid the duty.
why do you ask such question: the
writer enquired.
This is the reason. sir was his re-
ply. The diamond supply of the world
has come either from India or South
America for the past 300 years. These
stones | know came neither from Golcon-
da nor South America. 1t is evident that
a new diamond field has been discovered
somewhere, and that it contains some ex-
ceptionally fine stones. The largest
three of those you brought to me are as
fine as l have ever handled and of the
purest water"
why. good heavens, were those peb-
bles | gave you real diamonds" ex-
claimed the writer. l had just begun
to through a glass Garkly. Rhodes
had surely used me and victimiZed me.
too, to the top of his bent. The diamond
cutter saw that / had really not known
nor had the least idea of the possible
value of those rusty-appearing pebbles
when / delivered them to him. But
what they were when he first saw them
and made such tests as were in his pow
err. And sure was he in his belief that
they were really gems that he had
bought enough of various sizes to fill, I'M
cut, an earthenware pitcher with a lid
to it that held over a quart and half.
| His idea in bringing them to Europe in
such a glise was to avoid the tremendous
duty. He sold those he brought to the
CO. in, h,S. for rnth m 10
tween 100000 and s25O,0O0. and with the
sum at his disposal his fortune was GER
tain and secure.
Cecil Rhodes great luck did not end
here. He had TO take long trips in the
saddle every day. He did not care for
shooting much, but he had to amuse
himself in some manner One day, in
riding along, he cane across gang Of
Kafjirs squatted under the shade of a
great teak tree. They had something on
hand that interested them.
''Baas" (Kaffir Dutch for boss, or
mastery, said one of them, lis this any
good?"
The man had in his hand piece Of
some kind Of metal 1t had just been dug
up, and had not been washed clean, and
therefore was covered with clay and dirt.
II can't tell Imbazo (chieD, till l
can look at it. But I'll give you each
SlNptUcc II II gou
They Gid like. Siypence would buy
enough Cape smoke a viliainOus kir1
of rum-sometimes it is gin-to make
native drunk and keep him so for several
hours So the trade was made.
There was at Cape Town practical as
saver and metaIlurgist Mr.. Rhodes sent
this curious fnger-shaped piece OF metal
to him to be tested and reported upon.
Soon the man replied asking II Mr.
- ha tvnN No N
very soon and If he was to let him know.
Rhodes replied that ne could come II
there was anything really important to
come for.
Struck a Gold Mine.
The metallurgist answered very briefly:
Il think you had best Come
So Rhodes, who by this time was bulkily
fat, took the tiresomely long and tedious
trip from Groat Schnar to Cape Town,
about 4sO miles, and over the worst road
in South Africa.
Where did this come from?" asked the
assayer when he saw Rhodes.
How the devil should j know" was
Mr. Rhodes unamiable reply. But what
is it,"
why. it's pure gold-and gold of a very
high grade and fine quality" was the an
swer.
How Rhodes induced the cunning KAT
frs TO divulge the place where the nugget
came from the writer cannot say, but he
got hold of the secret.
Cecil Rhodes has been called a bundle
of Inconsistencies. and the term is not an
inapt one. His face was heavy, coarse,
and habby his manner ungraceiul to
degree But somehow he made friends
that stuck There is DR.. jameson, who
made that so much talked of jameson
raid which was really the first step to-
ward the present South African war. He
was Rhodes most intimate friend and
physician. They were born in the same
year and month, and Jameson was the
closest friend Rhodes ever had.
| have said Rhodes face was heavy,
coarse. and unsympathetic. So 1T was.
But he had the most marvellous eyes.
Deep large, dark. they were, when he
liked. mirrors of frankness that seemed
to reveal the mans soul. But when he
choosed it to be so. the face and eyes OF
the Cumaen Sybil were not more unread
able than his.
His Iiving-room at Groat Schnar was
lust like Mr. Rhodes. Three sides We're
covered with books. On the fourth hung
a superb collection of the heads and pre-
pared skins OF Africa's rarest and most
savage game. The finest battery of hunt
ing rifles and all that pertains to sports
flanked the hunters display. In good
health, Mr.. Rhodes was a daring ele-
phant. lion. and rhnoceros hunter, and
the walls of his home were covered with
the grim trophies OF the chase
J. 4. C.
Innnrkcr TIE Mk\jV