I— ADDRESS. 

 By Gardner F. Williams, M.A., 

 President. 



When your Council did me the lionour of asking me to accept 

 the presidency of tlie Association for this year I had not made any 

 definite plans for the future, but I outlined what might happen and 

 which has since taken place, namely, that I would shortly take up 

 my residence either in England or America. 



With this information before the Council I was elected your 

 President. I appreciate the honour conferred upon me, but at the 

 same time I have to express my regret that I am unable to be present 

 on the occasion of your visit to Kimberley where I spent so many 

 years endeavouring to make the De Beers Company one of the most 

 successful mining enterprises in the world. I feel certain, however, 

 that your meeting will be a great success, and that the Association will 

 be accorded a welcome characteristic of the citizens of the Diamond 

 Fields, and of the great corporation which has done so much for the 

 benefit of all who reside there. 



I propose to give short historic sketches of the settlement of the 

 Cape, of the adventurous spirit of the Portuguese, of the influence of 

 the Dutch Pioneers, who, year after year, trekked farther north until 

 they occupied the country from the Cape to the Limpopo, and of the 

 rush of adventurers from almost every part of the world who laid 

 the foundation of the mining industry of to-day. 



There were two motives for exploration that so signally stamped 

 the fifteenth century — the riches of a new world and an all sea route 

 to India. 



Somewhere in the unknown expanse of Africa, tradition placed 

 the land of Ophir and King Solomon's mines, and the explorer knew 

 of the coming of the Queen of Sheba to the King followed by a great 

 train loaded with gold and precious stones. The finding of the 

 southern waterway to the Indies was the first reward of the daring 

 explorers, Dias and Da Gama. 



Subsequently Da Gama touched at Mozambique (ist March, 

 1498) and saw gold in the hands of the Arabs that had passed up the 

 coast from Sofala, which was one of the traditional gateways to 

 King Solomon's mines. Here the Portuguese built a fort which they 

 called Ophir, and made this the starting point of adventurers in 

 ■search of the fountain of King Solomon's treasures. 



