DISCOVERY OF DIAMONDS. 
115 
Europe, will soon find that he has been entirely 
mistaken, for they are only to be met with after 
a troublesome long journey into the inhospitable 
interior. 
There can be no doubt that when the English took 
possession (in 1815) they found that a firm founda- 
tion had been laid by the Dutch a hundred and fifty 
years before, but the real progress of the country, and 
the development of its natural resources, date only 
from the commencement of British rule. * * * 
Within the past few years great impetus has been 
given to trade by the discovery of diamonds in the 
colony. But the means at present available for 
reaching the Fields are both difficult and dangerous ; 
they are more than 600 miles in the interior, and 
from Zoutkloof to Saltpans Drift (386 miles) the road 
is over the Karroo Desert, which during the dry 
season presents considerable difficulties to travellers. 
Yet the wagons which start weekly are generally 
filled, notwithstanding the very high prices charged. 
It appears that the first diamond was found by 
some children who had been gathering agates and 
other pebbles in the bed of the Orange Diver. This 
stone (weighing 21 T 3 ^- carats) attracted the attention 
of an inland trader, and was sent by him to Dr. 
Atherstone, of Graham’s Town, by whom it was 
pronounced an unmistakable diamond of the first 
water. Systematic search was then made, which 
resulted in the finding of numerous small diamonds 
