Offices
were opened by diamond buyers in the mining towns, either as
independent merchants or as representatives of large, foreign wholesale
dealers and diamond cutters, and besides these established purchasers,
there were a number of traders who made regular rounds through the
diggings, buying from claim-owners in their tents or houses or at the
sorting table. These peripatetic dealers were familiarly known as "
kopje wallopers," for kopjes were the sites of the chief surface
digging. No doubt there were dishonest men among these dealers, small
and large ; for the frequent temptations were too strong for slight
scruples, and it is certain also that many diamonds were bought under
cover by saloon and shop keepers and other speculative traders who came
into familiar contact with the diggers.
It
is plain that it was impossible to trace or identify a stolen diamond,
even when the theft was known, and great quantities of. gems were
secretly bought and carried to the coast towns for sale or forwarded
stealthily to foreign markets. It has been estimated that fully fifty
per cent of the diamonds taken from the diggings in the early years
were secreted and sold speculatively. This is undoubtedly an
extravagant reckoning, but there is no question that a large percentage
were filched away.
To
give some idea of the enormous quantity of diamonds that were stolen in
the early days of the fields, and before the compound system was
adopted, the following notice is reproduced : —
NOTICE
The
undermentioned rough and uncut diamonds having from time to time been
recovered by this Department, notice is hereby given to all whom it may
concern, that unless proof of the bona fide right to the possession of
such diamonds be given, or a proper permit for the same be produced
within ten days from the date hereof, such diamonds will be sold and
the proceeds of such sale carried to the account of the Government.
John Fry,
Chief of Detective Department of Griqualand West. May 24th, 1883.
