162 THE DIAMOND MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA brokers sat ready to judge and buy rough diamonds for export ; a music hall had a rude vaudeville show every week-day night; members of the Masonic fraternity established a lodge; and a little brick church welcomed all comers to its Sunday services.1 Similar buildings were put up less regularly in the Pniel
	both sides of the river, and the local news and stir of the river diggings. Rowboats of an established ferry made regular trips across the river from one camp ground to the other, charging a passenger sixpence for crossing. So there was easy communi­cation, and the two camps were one in their common appearance, 1 "Among the Diamonds," 1870-1871. " The Diamond Diggings of South Africa," Pay ton, 1872.