THE DUDLEY, OR STAR OF SOUTH AFRICA. 241
kept
the stone, and Van Niekirk gave him nearly all he possessed for
it—about 500 sheep, horses, &c.— but at whatever the price, he
obtained the stone, and set off with it to Messrs. Lilienfield
Brothers, of Hope-town, merchants of long standing in South Africa, and
now represented in Hatton-garden. They purchased the stone for
.£11,200, and christened it the " Star of South Africa," forwarded it
to England, and it ultimately became the property of the Countess of
Dudley, who purchased it of Messrs. Hunt and Roskell."
In
the process of cutting, undertaken by the purchasers, it was reduced
to 46 1/2 carats, and assumed, in the lapidary's hands, a triangular
shape of such great brilliancy and perfectly colourless, that it is
impossible to distinguished it from an Indian stone of the finest
water. The present Earl of Dudley had it skilfully mounted with 95
smaller brilliants, as a head ornament, whereby full effect is given to
its beautiful form and splendid lustre.
