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XXXIII.
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THE STAR OF BEAUFORT.
The comparatively Unknown Diamond Fields of South Africa—The Progress and Wealth of Griqualand West —One of many Great Diamonds.
R.
R. W. MURRAY, in a paper read before the Society of Arts a year ago,
held that while the Diamonds Fields of South Africa are the least known
of English territory, and have been most misrepresented, no single
spot of ground in the whole world, is better worth knowing than they
are. We quite agree with him in believing that no discovery of modern
times is more remarkable than that of the Diamond Fields of South
Africa, no portion of her Majesty's dominions has made such rapid
progress in civilization and wealth ; and that unless the progress of
the province of Griqualand West, in which the Diamond Fields are
situated, is checked by mis-government, it will be one of the chief
centres of trade, and commerce in that great country.
What
is almost as remarkable as the general ignorance in regard to South
Africa, is the way in which some of the diamonds discovered there
become absorbed, and leave comparatively no trace of their history or
their whereabouts. Take, for example the " Star of Beaufort." All that
appears to be known
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