to
this version, handed the stone to O'Reilly for identification, and the
latter pronounced it to be a Diamond; it weighed rather more than 21
carats. The other version states that the stone passed to O'Reilly from
Jacobs, and that O'Reilly sent it to Dr. Atherstone, of Grahamstown,
who identified it by scientific tests. Be that as it may, the Diamond
was found near Hopetown, in Cape Colony. It was sent to the Paris
Exhibition of 1867, and afterwards purchased by the Governor of Cape
Colony for £'500. Careful search by the settlers of the district
brought to light more stones, and next year workings on the Vaal river
added to the number. Up to the end of 1870, these river workings were
the only ones that were productive. The stones were found chiefly in
the Vaal about Barkly West, some occurring in the gravel in the bed of
the stream, and often quite a number being found in the " pot-holes,"
eroded by the river setting stones whirling round in its bed. It was
also found that the old river terraces bordering on the present bed
yielded Diamonds, even to a height of 200 feet above the present level.
Specimens were found as far up as Christiana, in the Transvaal, though
the lower workings were most productive. Since the stones occurred
amongst water-worn material, and themselves showed signs of such
erosion, it is obvious that they have been transported some distance by
the stream ; the gem is associated with other minerals, such as Quartz,
and several varieties of Chalcedony, Garnet and Ilmenite. In quality
these " river-stones " are good, and hence they command a price above
that obtained for stones from the "dry diggings," to be mentioned next.
At the end of 1870, some chance discoveries of Diamonds
