Chapter 111.

Otago Witness, Issue 2084, 1 February 1894, Page 45

Chapter 111.

About to Start.— Diamonds in Prospect. - Jamracb, the Boer, was not long in making his personal preparations for the trip ; for he just walked to his house and announced to his family what were his intentioas, and handed over the government of affairs to his three big sons and his wife, who took the matter quite calmly, and in 15 minutes he was in earnest consultation with the professor as to what stores he had on hand.

The long waggon had a covering over it known as a tilt, and was constructed in the most substantial manner. The road they had to travel, be it remembered, was through a wilderness, across stony river beds, and up and down high mountains. The use of a Blightly-made vehicle, therefore, would have been to Invite disaster, and no money and pains had been spared to provide against the contingency of a Beriou3 breakdown. In case of accident there were necessary tools for repairs, as well as spades and shovels for the purpose of digging the huge waggon out should it become engulphed in a quagmire or in the bed of a river.

Professor Goodwood exhibited his list of belongings to Jamrach, who expressed his unqualified approval. There was abundance of sugar, tea, coffee, cocoa, tinned milk, Indian corn, wheaten flour, salt, tinned meats, ammunition (consisting of cartridges, kegs of powder, bullets, and lead), brass wire, and different kinds of beads, which, with lead and powder, are used as money for barter with the natives. There was a good supply of, salt, and at the suggestion of Jamrach an extra stock of lollies was procured for the delectation of any Boer families they might come across in their travels, as those sturdy people are notorious for the possession of a very " sweet tooth," and a gift of sweet stuff haß even 'been known to propitiate them when other offerings had failed.

There were plentiful supplies of medicines such as castor oil, Epsom salts, pills, ointment, quinine, &0., with sticking plaster and, splints in case of accident ; and the professor " let out " in the course of conversation that he had qualified asM.D. of London University, so that the little party possessed the important desideratum of a physician. The waggon was to be drawn by oxen, and they started with no less than 20, so that should they become pressed for food they could kill some of them, or if they lost a few by sickness or accident there would still be a sufficiency for the work. Two men had to look after the animals — viz., the forelopsr, who went with the first pair and selected the road for them — a post requiring skill and care, since a big stone might cause serious damage ; and this post was allotted to Bopa, the Kaffir; while Jamrach took upon his own strop g shoulders the position of driver ; and two better or more reliable men for the respective posts could not have been selected. Jamraph made an addition to their stock.* in-trade own from hi 3 store of a few dozen coloured, blankets and some waterproof sheeting, also a score of old flintlock muskets, for, as he tersely put it, "• Swap mjd de natives. 1 ' c Particular care had been bestowed on the '• arsenal," by which name Dr Goodwood designated their firearms, and that estimable gentleman forthwith presented a serviceable Snider breech-loading rifle to each of his coloured protegees, and delighted them beyond measure mot only by the gift but by devoting several hours to their instruction in the use of both rifle and shot-gun, in the use of which they were daily to become more proficient. The guns were hung up under the waggon -ready for instant use if necessity arose. Two large dogs of a sort of mastiff breed, Grip and Fan, accompanied the expedition. Dr Goodwood rode a splendid roan, nearly IChds high, warranted proof against the dreaded tsetse fly; and he had another horse, a fine chestnut, also believed to have been bitten by the fly and recovered, when they are said to have become " salted," or proof in future against the ravagss of the dreaded insect. The Becond horse was taken In case of any mishap to the roan, and Sambo and Pompey were to be allowed to ride him occasionally, but as a rule they were to proceed on foot a little in front of the waggon. Jn fact, they were to act as scouts or gdyanpe gnarcj, 4nd, aa the party wouji have tq fjepend for their subsistence to a great ex? tent on the chase, the boys were told off as hunters to the expedition. The professor, however, caused them to distinctly understand that he would not permit of any j slaughter except for food or in the interest of science. He also armed both Sambo and Pompey with a large butterfly net and cork-lined collector's box, and having shown them how to capture the insects and to kill them with a slight pinch in the thorax, and then to carefully transfix them with an entomological pin and place their treasures in the box, sent them forth on a grand hunting expedition while he discussed the details of their projected trip with Jamrach. " It is very good of you, Mr Jamrach, to join your forces with ours," said the professor. " Veil, no, I don't dink so," replied he. " I vant to travel. Verra likely I find somedings to pay for my droubles ; " and, with a ft very sly look, he added, " J mide finta big diamont' like the stone found at Waldeck's." " Ab," replied the doctor, with a start, " I've had an idea of something of that kind also. I may as well," he went on, "be perfeotly frank with you, my friend. My InEtructions extend to prospectiog for precious metals and diamonds as well as natural history, so our tastes will be in accord. It will be only right, however, that we have a dia-

aantly and profitably employed. Jamrach even, who turned out to be a born naturalist, did not refuse to join in the conversation, and related his own experiences of large and beautiful butterflies and moths he had seen in his travels ; and the black boys were told what every white boy, in all probability, is fully aware of — viz., that butterflies are seen by day, and moths come out as a rule only after the sun has gone down, and are caught by beiDg— some of the species — attracted by light, and others again have a great affinity for the honey to be found in flowers, or for the sugar ppt of the entomologist, in which isaconcootion usually made from sugar, beer, and a little rum — a mixture of which they are very fond, and to which therefore they come very freely.

The jconversation turned again to the diamonds, a subject on which the professor proved himself to be remarkably wellinformed. India, he said, was the only country which formerly yielded diamonds in any quantity, and thence were obtained all the great historical stones of antiquity. At present, however, the diamond production of India is insignificant. B,ra?U was not regarded as a diamond-yielding country until X72f, when the true nature of certain crystals found in the gold washirga of the province of Miuas Geraes was first detected. In 1853 an extraordinary diamond was found by a negress in the river Bogagem at Minas Geraes. It weighed 254£ carats, and was cut into a brilliant weighing 125 carats, which was afterwards known as the " Scar of the South," and was sold to the Gaikwar of Baroda for £80,000.

But both the Indian and Brazilian diamond fields have of late years been eclipsed by the remarkable discoveries of South Africa. Although it was known in the last century that diamonds occurred in certain parts of South Africa, the fact was forgotten, and when in 1867 they were found near Hopetown the discovery came upon the world as a surprise. One stone found at Waldeck's Point on the Vaal weighed 288| carats, and yielded a fine, pale yellow brilliant known as the " Stewart." Jn the earliest days of African mining, a diamond of about 83 carats was obtained from a Boer, This stone, when cut, yielded a splendid colourless brilliant of 46$ carats, known as the " Star of South Afnca " or as the " Dudley," since it afterwards became the property of the Oountess of Dudley. It has long been known that diamonds ocour in Australia, but hitherto the Australian stones have been all of small size, and it is notable that these are much more difficult to out, being harder than other diamonds. Although Victoria and South Australia have occasionally

bufc they never moved. Just then my mistress came and hunted me out, but I intend to go b<\ck again some day when I get the chance. Dear Dot, I must say good-bye, as I hear my mistress calling me. — Yours truly, Tabby's Kitten. Glenomaru, January 23. Dea"r Dot, — I am going to tell you about my holidays. We got four weeks' holidays, and the first week we had a picnic at the Waipiata School, the second week I spent very quietly at home, the third week I was at the New Year sports at Naseby, and this is my fourth week now, and two of my brothers and my 6ister and myself are all stopping at my aunt's at the Gitnmerburn, and we have enjoyed ourselves very much. We were up ab the Garibaldi Ranges, and got £»uch a lovely view from the top. We could see all the Maniofcoto Plains. We have been spending some afternoons with the neighbouring little girls, and they have spent afternoons with us in return. Don't you think I have enjoyed myself, Dot ? I am so sorry tp say that I have no pets to tell you about, but my aunt is going to give me a little black and white kitten. It has got turned ears and turned eyes. It is such a fupny looking little thing ; please will you giye W© a, name for it. — Yours tjrujy, Sarah Ann (aged 18 years). Gimmerburn, January 13. f I do not quite understand what turned ears and turned eyes are. Does ifc squint P We oan't very well call ib Turn, but how would Trun do ? it has the same letters in it. You have had a good time during your holidays. — Dot.] Deaii Dot,— l arrived in Dunedin about six weeks ago from Wellington. I had a rough trip down in the Mararoa, and was sick all the way. From Dunedin I went on by train to Milton, where I stayed for about three weeks. During my stay there I went out shooting almost every day, and what with riding and driving I managed to pass the time very pleasantly. About two weeks .ago I arrived here, and am enjoying myself even more pleasantly than at Milton, though the weather is rather unsettled. I am sorry I shall have to return to Wellington in about a week. — Yours truly, Robert (aged 12). Middlemaroh, January 23,. Deah Dot, — I said in my las,fc letter I would tell you about my garden. My fgarden has a few flowers in it, and I intend to put some more in ifc next year. Ifc has been very wet weather here lately. We went for a picnic on Christmas Day to the sea beach, and I enjoyed myself very much. We took a ball and had a game of rounders. We also had some other games. We went to the Sunday school picnic, and I ran in a race and won a doll. It has blue eyes and pink cheeks ; will you please give me a name for it. We had our school treat on January 15. Ifc was a very nne)d&y,and my sister and I got two prizes. I am in the Third Standard now, and Mr Menzies is my teacher. My little white kitten Beauty ia lost, and I am so sorry. Thank you for the n&r^e. for my Kitten. We

have a bull calf ; will you please give us a name for ifc. — Yours truly, Macksik Pattkrson (aged 9 years and 7 months). Wai mate, January 26. [Gall the doll Duchess and the calf Duke. — Dot.]