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THE DIAMOND
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Gaikwar
of Baroda for 8 lacs of rupees or about £80,-000. This was the Hindu
prince who had a habit of administering powdered glass (some say
diamond dust) to obnoxious subjects. He extended the practice to
others, and experimented with the British Resident, Colonel Phayre,
whereupon he was arraigned, tried, found guilty and deposed.
The
first large diamond found in South Africa was a river stone weighing
83-1/2 carats. Van Niekirk got it from a native and sold it in Hopetown
for £11,200. It was cut to a pear-shape brilliant of 46-1/2 carats and
named " Star of South Africa." It is a stone of very fine color and
quality, similar to the Indian stones. The Countess of Dudley bought it
for about £25,000, since which it is often mentioned as the " Dudley " diamond.
The
" Porter Rhodes," so named after the owner of the mine in which it was
found, is one of the finest diamonds of large size taken from the Cape
diggings. It was found February 12, 1880, and weighed 150 carats. The
color is blue-white; rare in any size and extremely so in large sizes.
It was exhibited at Streeter's museum on Bond Street and valued at
£200,000. It came from one of Mr. Porter Rhodes' Kimberley claims.
A
yellowish crystal from a claim in the River diggings at Waldeck's Plant
on the Vaal, was for several years the largest known Cape stone. It was
found in 1872, and weighed 288-3/4 carats. At that time it was
mentioned as the " July diamond." Since cutting, it is known as the "
Stewart" and is a yellowish brilliant of 120 carats. This stone
illustrates the uncertainties of mining, and the finding of it reminds
one that it is " the unexpected which happens." It was taken from a
claim
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