miners were strenuously working along the rivers, far more
wonderful diamond regions were soon to be unfolded; regions rich beyond
the loftiest nights of the imagination and equal to the fabled valley of
Sindbad the Sailor.

A thrifty Dutch vrau owned a farm, on a volcanic plateau extending for
miles into the rocky kopjes. Her overseer, learning that garnets are
often found associated with diamonds, and noticing some garnets in one
of the small streams that coursed through the valley, concluded to do a
little prospecting on his own account. Sinking a hole a few feet in
depth and sifting the sand and gravel through a common sieve, he came
across a diamond weighing fifty carats--nearly half an ounce.

This find caused a rush to the farm to secure claims, and the widow,
with an eye to business, charged a monthly license of ten dollars. Soon
this discovery was eclipsed by a more remarkable one at Dutoitspan[4] in
1870. Although a fair supply of diamonds was found near the surface,
these diggings seemed to give out as they reached hard limestone.

When nearly all of the prospectors had left the field, having become
discouraged, one more sanguine than the others determined to find out
what was beneath this limestone covering. Sinking a shaft, he found that
the limestone grew so soft and friable that it could be easily dug out
with a pick. When he had penetrated the limestone covering he came in
contact with a hard layer somewhat of the nature of clay. This he
proceeded to break up and sift. During the sifting process he observed
many sparkling gems. The problem had been partly solved at least.
Diamonds were to be found in greater abundance below than above the
limestone covering. On learning of the changed condition of affairs the
deserting miners hastened back to the diggings in double-quick time.

Early in 1871 diamonds were found at Bultfontein[5] and on the De Beers
farm, two miles from Dutoitspan. Five months later another bed of
diamonds was found on the same farm, lying on a sloping kopje, one mile
from the first location. This kopje, named Colesberg Kopje, became
afterward the famous Kimberley mine. The district was immediately
divided into claims and taken by prospectors.

The climate of this section is exceedingly trying. A blazing sun, clouds
of suffocating dust, and a scanty supply of muddy water are the
conditions of the region; it therefore required remarkable physical
endurance and an indomitable will to ac