The
name of Colesberg Kopje was given to the hillock because the lucky
diggers, headed by Rawstorne, came to the field from the town of
Colesberg, near the Orange River. The instant flocking of people to the
two Vooruitzigt farm diggings caused them to be roughly distinguished
as " De Beers Rush" or " Old De Beers," and " De Beers New Rush," or
the " Colesberg Kopje " — names which endured some months, until the "
New Rush " was rechristened Kimberley in honor of the British secretary
for the colonies.
This
inroad of squatting prospectors was greatly vexing at first to the
owners of the diamond-bearing farms. It disturbed the use of the ground
for stock-raising purposes, and if there were any diamonds on the land,
the purchasing speculators wanted to hold the beds for their own
exclusive development and profit. But it was soon evident that this
design was impracticable. The swarm that covered the ground could not
be held in check by any force at command of the owners, and stiffly
refused to recog-
