and
from information derived from reliable sources, I have every confidence
in saying, I firmly believe it has no rival. The diamond was found on
the 12th of February, 1880, in one of my claims, (or diggings),
situated in what is known as the Kimberley Mine, Diamond Fields, South
Africa. Here, at mid-day, the workmen are allowed to leave the mine,
and are away somewhat over an hour for dinner. I was in the habit of
meeting my overseers at this time every day, for the purpose of
ascertaining whether anything good had been found, or other news in
connection with the mine, and I had always impressed upon them, in case
of a good stone being unearthed, they were not to mention the fact
before the diamond had been handed to me. The reason for this, no
doubt, you will quite understand. At that time, and even now, the
dealers in rough diamonds like to be in the position of knowing that
the diamond or parcel of diamonds, purchased from the claimholder, had
not been offered for sale to any of their neighbours in opposition
establishments, and I believe I have at times, obtained higher prices,
through being able to shew that no other dealer had seen the stones.
Why this should make any difference I am unable to tell. On the 12th of
February, 1880, I had been busily engaged at the Magistrate's Court, in
connection with a case I had against a native, who had been
misbehaving himself, and was not released until a few minutes after
the time, 12 o'clock, when I should have been at the edge of the mine,
to hear the news. However, I went in the direction where I was most
likely to meet my chief overseer, and fortunately saw
