62 APPENDIX. 



Orange River territory, and are said to vary in weight from 6 to 

 13 carats ; some of them reach 150 carats. The diamonds are 

 accompanied by garnet, topaz, and other hard minerals.* 



* The locality is at Pniel, on the Yaal EiTer, opposite Klipdrift (the terri- 

 tory of the chief Waterboer) , distant about 800 miles from Cape Town, where 

 the weather is fiercely hot from all December to all March. It is much 

 nearer to Port Elizabeth eastward of Cape Town, the distance being about 

 496 miles. But the dilBciilties in travelKng are great. In Norember, 1870, 

 about 10,000 men were employed. Without mentioning an opinion as to the 

 alleged value of the diamonds found, I may append here an extract from the 

 Mauritius Cot)imercial Gazette of 18th November, which is not without 

 interest. 



" The latest telegraphic advices from tbe diamond-fields are that ' at Hebron 

 they are picking them up at the rate of sixty diamonds per week.' And at 

 G-onggong, or a little below that place, one man has found two diamonds, one 

 valued at £40,000, and the other at £80,000. Of ordinary sized diamonds 

 reports come in daily. A man has just found a ten-carat one on an abandoned 

 kopje (hillock.) Another, Mr. H. S. Jones, son of an auctioneer of Cape 

 Town, has unearthed one of 26 carats, worth about £8,000. This he obtained 

 after ten days' work. He is on his way back to town to dispose of his find, 

 while a man who worked with him, named Lance, who came here from St. 

 Helena, remains, and continues working the claim in his partner's absence. 



The territory which is ascertained to be diamondiferous now fully extends 

 over 100 miles. As to the possibility of its exhaustion, to speak of that, com- 

 petent judges say is to speak of an event which may occur next century, or 

 perhaps a century hence." 



" The following is a resume of the known shipments since the beginning of 

 September last : — 



KTJMBER AJSD VAirE OF DIAMONDS SENT FEOM THIS POET. 



1870. Diamonds. Value. 



Sept. 14th.— Per E.M. S. "Roman" 496 £15,000 



„ 29tb.— Per R. M. S. " Norseman" 387 15,500 



Octr. 15th.— Per R. M. S. " Northam" 67 8,850 



„ 31st.— Per R. M. S. " Saxon" 110 4,230 



Novi-.13th.— Per E. M.S. "Celt' 1,240 22,255 



Per post 26 1,300 



2,326 £64,135 



Last week we had intelligence by telegraph of some very large "finds." 

 The report was that one of 150 carats had been found, one of 117 carats, and 

 several others ranging from 12 to 18 and 25 carats. With regard to the two 

 very large ones I prefer to take the announcement with caution, but as to 

 the smaller ones I do not for a moment doubt they were really obtained. A 

 personal fi-iend of mine foimd one of them weighing 15 carats. At the same 

 time there need be no unnecessary scepticism about the matter. Large finds are 

 kept very close ; but it is very well known for all that, diamonds of immense 

 size have been found. When I say " of immense size," I mean above 100 

 carats tip to nearly double that weight. The 88 carat one, found by Wheeler, 

 arrived yesterday in town. It is in the keeping of the Standard Bank, which, 

 institution has made a large advance upon it, and to which it is entrusted for 

 disposal in Europe. In-espective of this monster, the mail steamer " Celt" will 

 take home on Saturday nearly 2,000 diamonds, valued at a large amount. 



