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Sec. II, Ch. 2: The African Diamond

Sec. II, Ch. 2: The African Diamond Page of 366 Sec. II, Ch. 2: The African Diamond Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
African Diamonds.                             89
41 compound," and the strictest supervision is exercised over them. The Diamond trade is regulated on the fields by the "Diamond Trade Act," known commonly as the " I.D.B. Act," its object being to prevent Illicit Diamond Buying. But, notwithstanding its stringency and the severity of the punishment accorded by the Special Court, the I.D.B. trade still flourishes.
One of the most interesting features in the Diamond production of South Africa is the large number of stones of unusual size which have been brought to light. Among those found in the river washings attention may be called to the famous " Stewart," which was found in 1872, at Waldeck's Plant, on the Vaal River. It is a Diamond of light yellow colour, beautifully crystallized, and weighed in its rough state 288| carats, of nearly two ounces troy.
One of the finest South African Diamonds ever dis­covered was found on February 12, 1880, in a claim at Kimberley, belonging to Mr. Porter Rhodes. It is true that in weight it has been exceeded by many other stones, but in purity of colour it has very few rivals. It weighs 150 carats, and placed by the side of Cape stones, having a slight tendency to yellowish tints, it seems to present the faintest possible shade of blue. This magnificent " blue-white " Diamond, which was valued by its owner at £200,000, was publicly exhibited at Streeter's Museum in Bond Street.
Stones weighing over an ounce (151.5 carats) are by no means unfrequent at Kimberley. The largest Diamond ever found in either of the mines at Kimberley was a noble octahedral crystal from De Beer's weighing in the rough 428-1/2 carats. This stone was sent to the Paris Exhibition of 1889 where it was cut to a brilliant weighing 228-1/2 carats. It is known as the " Victoria."
Sec. II, Ch. 2: The African Diamond Page of 366 Sec. II, Ch. 2: The African Diamond
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