Sec. II, Ch. 2: The African Diamond

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	CHAPTER II. AFRICAN DIAMONDS.

	Ν dealing with the geographical distribution of Diamonds, the stones of each locality will be described in a separate chapter, and the several localities will be taken in their alphabetical order. It is not, however, a mere alphabetical accident which places Africa at the head of the diamond-yielding localities, for during the last thirty years the yield of the South African mines has been without a parallel in any other part of the world, and probably without a parallel at any period of the world's ' history. Although South Africa has risen as a diamond-producing locality within the recollection of the present generation, much evidence may be adduced in support of the view that Diamonds were known and worked there at a very remote period. Thus, the Monastery Mine, in the Orange Free State, though unknown in modern ages until a few years ago, had evidently been previously worked and abandoned—the ancient workings probably going back to prehistoric times. Implements wrought in stone and , bronze have been discovered in the deserted mine, associated with human skeletons ; and it is hoped that the scientific examination of these relics by competent experts may throw light upon the date of the old workings. It may be added, that Mr. W. II. Penning also believes from his discoveries of stone implements at Kimberley that the

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