2 GEMS AND PRECIOUS STONES.
When
we consider the enormous quantity of diamonds that have been recovered
from the mines of South Africa, of Brazil, and of India, we must
acknowledge that up to the present time very little has been
accomplished in the Australian Colonies in this industry.
Diamonds
were known to exist in New South "Wales as early as 1859*, in fact
before their rediscovery in South Africa, and yet, in comparison,
virtually nothing has been done here. Every field had a beginning, and
since diamonds, are known to exist in different localities in this
Colony, it remains for' someone to succeed in locating their position
in payable quantities, which result will no doubt eventually be brought
about by systematic search or by accident.
Although
the diamond fields of such marvellous richness were often discovered
in a very simple manner, yet, we find that those who were the fortunate
ones, usually had some knowledge of these gems to guide them, either
from the appearance of the stones themselves, or of the geological
similarities. Although in most things the proverb is correct, " that a
little ' knowledge is a dangerous thing," yet, in the discovery of
diamond fields, it evidently does not apply. It is reported that in
1751 a slave, who had been; transported from the province of Minas
Geraes, Brazil, to Bahia in the same country, discovered
diamonds in the latter place, because of the similarity of soil and
geological formation between the two districts, thus succeeding in
opening up one of the richest fields for diamonds ever discovered, f
The
Sincora Mine in the Province of Bahia, was discovered about the year
1843, by a mulatto miner, who had previously been engaged in washing
for diamonds. He went by himself searching for these gems, and laboured
successfully for some days, till want of provisions drove him home. He
returned with the stones he had collected, which he offered for sale to
some of the people engaged at another mine. As the stones were of
different quality, it was suggested that he had discovered another
mine. He denied having done so, and was thrown into prison, accused of
having stolen the diamonds ; he at last confessed to his discovery and
was released. In about eight months nearly 15,000 persons arrived at
the place, and the diamonds were found in such quantity, that in two
years it is surmised that nearly 600,000 carats were obtained and
forwarded to Europe. The value of the diamonds exported from this field
must certainly have been very great. The enormous numbers of diamonds
that have been found in South Africa has done much to reduce the
importance of the Brazilian fields, as previously these Brazilian mines
had reduced the importance of those of India.
The
South African diamond-fields are situated north of the Orange River, in
the province of Griqualand West, at a distance of about 500 miles from
the coast.
The
story of the discovery (or rather re-discovery, for, although unknown
to Europeans until that time, the natives had for many years been aware
of their existence), is that a trader named John O'Reilly was, in the
year 1867, travelling southward from the Orange River, when he rested
his team
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