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THE DIAMOND
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roaming
place of the mongrel Hottentot Griquas. For centuries, Kaffirs and
Hottentots had wandered through it. The Boers had trekked it, the
English following; both passing over land so poor and plenty that
neither cared to take it from the natives who migrated there. Yet in
the no-mans land which both left unconsidered when they drew their
border lines, Nature had concealed treasures probably older than man
and greater than he had yet conceived possible.
After
the Dutch founded the Orange Free State, it became necessary to make a
landmark which should be a respected dividing line between them in
their new setÂtlement, and the English with their coast line to the
south and a habit of extension into the indefinite in all directions.
By the treaty of Alivai, signed in 1869, England pledged herself not to
interfere with the terÂritory north of the Orange river. But big wheels
turn on small pivots. That African diamond had already started forces
working which would not only modify the treaty of Alivai but impregnate
Africa with the seed of Empire.
There
is no evidence that the few persons living in that territory made any
systematic search for the precious stones. It had not yet occurred to
them that there were enough to make it worth while. Undoubtedly the
eyes of some roved when they went about, and Van Niekirk and others
doubtless were alert for more stones like that other, which the
children or natives might possess, but it is evident that those who
knew of the diamonds did not spread their knowledge, for at that time
there were diamonds sticking in the walls of some of the Boer farm
buildings not many miles from the
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