174 THE DIAMOND MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA
shows,
well preserved after a long and eventful life in South Africa. She was
eighty-two years old at the time of our meeting. Her memory took her
back to the days of the discovery, and she related the incidents of the
Fields as clearly as if they had happened but yesterday. The
photograph, here reproduced, of the discoverer of Kimberley mine and
his party was taken a few days after the discovery of diamonds on
Colesberg Kopje. Fleetwood Rawstorne stands in the middle of the group
(page 175), in the shade of a fine specimen of the camelthorn trees
which
grew upon the mine. They had only begun to dig prospectÂing holes. The
cut on page 176 shows the primitive method of working the diamond -
bearing ground. I had the story of the discovery also from Mr. T. B.
Kisch, who states that he is the only one now living of the first four
locators.
Fleetwood
Rawstorne, T. B. Kisch, and two other diggers were prospecting on this
kopje during the month of July, 1871. Some of the party thought they
saw " indications " of diamond deposits, and Rawstorne sent his Kafir
servant to prospect thorÂoughly the spot in view. The Kafir returned to
his master with a diamond of about two carats weight. This discovery
was made known at once to the other members of the party, and all went
immediately to the spot and marked and pegged off" their claims ;
Rawstorne pegging three, two as a reward for discovery and one as a
digger. After the claims had been pegged off Rawstorne went to the authorities and reported his discovery. On the following day the government surveyor was sent to mark off the claims and allot them according to the existing Jaw or custom.
