DIAMOND 21 



dually became established that South Africa contained diamond-fields rivalling those 

 of Brazil. Numbers of adventurers were soon attracted to the chief diamond-bearing 

 localities, and vast numbers of stones, including many of unusual size, have been 

 brought to light. It is estimated that the total shipments of diamonds from Port 

 Elizabeth, Table Bay, and Natal, during the year 1870 represented a value of 

 220,000^. 



The South African diamonds occur chiefly in the valleys cf the Vaal and Orange 

 Rivers ; the principal localities being Pniel, Hebron, Klipdrift, Du Toit's Pan, Old 

 De Boer's Farm, and the New Rush or Colesberg Koppie. The workings are of two 

 kinds, known as the ' river-diggings ' and the ' dry-diggings.' The former are in de- 

 posits of gravel and drift, rich in pebbles of jasper, chalcedony, carnelian, agate, lydian 

 stone, garnets, ilmenite, &c. ; the diamonds are sparsely disseminated through these 

 gravels, and are separated by simple washing. But, in addition to these drift- workings, 

 mining has been very successfully prosecuted in dry diggings at a distance from the 

 river. These diggings are generally opened in deposits of detrital matter, occupying 

 circular areas, surrounded by Karoo (Trias) shales. Each of these diamond-bearing 

 areas represents a 'pipe,' containing intrusive rocks more or less altered and frequently 

 broken up so as to form a breccia. The diamonds are associated with garnets, green 

 bronzite, vermiculite, and a few other minerals ; a calcareous deposit, or tufa, is 

 also commonly present in the upper part of the pipes; and fragments of schist, dolerite, 

 and steatitic minerals are generally found in company with the diamonds. The 

 crystals of diamond are occasionally embedded in the tufa, and are disseminated 

 through the altered rocks which form the chief contents of the pipes ; but it may be 

 doubted whether in either case the gem occurs in its original matrix. 



It unfortunately happens that by far the greater number of the Cape diamonds are 

 * off coloured,' that is to say, they are not of pure water, but exhibit more or less colour, 

 a pale straw tint being especially characteristic. The crystals are commonly well 

 formed, and often of large size ; indeed the great number of unusually large diamonds 

 is one of the most notable features in the occurrence of the South African diamonds. 

 Thus the ' Star of South Africa ' weighed 83 carats, and yielded a fine brilliant of 

 46|- carats. But the largest diamond hitherto discovered at the Cape is a stone now 

 known as the ' Stewart,' which was found at "Waldeck's plant in November 1872. 



The Stewart is a fine octahedral crystal of pale straw colour, weighing in the rough 

 28 8f carats. It is believed that this diamond is exceeded in weight by only three others 

 in the world, namely, the Nizam, the Great Mogul, and the diamond of the Rajah of 

 Mattan. It seems likely that a brilliant may be cut from the Stewart, which will 

 weigh half as much again as our Koh-i-noor. 1 



Diamonds take precedence of every gem for the purpose of dress and decoration ; 

 and hence the price attached to those of pure water increases in so rapid a proportion, 

 that, beyond a certain term, there is no rule of commercial valuation. One of the 

 largest diamonds known seems to be that of the Rajah of Mattan in Borneo. It is 

 of the purest water and weighs 367 carats, or at the rate of 4 grains to a carat, 

 upwards of 3 ounces troy. It is shaped like an egg, with an indented hollow near 

 the smaller end; it was discovered at Landak about 100 years ago; and though the 

 possession of it has cost several wars, it remained in the Mattan family for 90 years. 

 A governor of Batavia, after ascertaining the qualities of the gem, wished to be the 

 purchaser, and offered 150,000 dollars for it, besides two war brigs with their guns and 

 ammunition, together with a certain number of great guns, and a quantity of powder 

 and shot. But this diamond possessed such celebrity in Borneo, being regarded as a 

 talisman involving the fortunes of the Rajah and his family, that he refused to part 

 with it at any price. 



The Mogul diamond passed into the possession of the ruling family of Kabul, as 

 has been invariably affirmed by the members of that family, and by the jewellers of 

 Delhi and Kabul. It has been by both parties identified with the great diamond now 

 known under the name of the Koh-i-noor, or Mountain of Light which was displayed 

 by its present proprietor, Her Majesty the Queen, at the Great Exhibition in 1851. 



The diamond denominated the Koh-i-noor (or Mountain, Jcoh, of Light, noor), called 

 Kuh-i-nur by Mr. E. B. Eastlake (p. 23), has long enjoyed both Indian and European 

 celebrity, and has accordingly been the subject of traditional fable, as well as of histo- 

 rical record. 



According to Hindu legend, it was found in the mines of the south of India, in the 

 days of the Great War, the subject of the heroic poem, the Mahabharata, and was 

 worn by one of the warriors who was slain on that occasion, Kama, king of Anga : 



1 For further information on the occurrence of .diamonds in South Africa, see a lecture by Pro- 

 fessor Tennant, Journal of the Society of Arts,' November 25, 1870 ; an article by Professor Rupert 

 Jones, in the ' Geological Magazine/ February 1871 : and a paper by Mr. B. J. Dunn, in the Quart, 

 Journ. Geological Soc., Feb. 1874. 



