y their time, were free to roam over karoo, and veld, and
along the river.

What children are not attracted by pebbly streams? Wading in the water
and skating flat stones on its surface was a joyous pastime for them.
The banks of the river were strewn with stones of various colors and
sizes such as would naturally attract the eyes of children.

There were rich red garnets, variegated jaspers, chalcedonies and agates
of many hues mingled with rock-crystals. The children would fill their
pockets with these colored pebbles and carry them home to use in play.

One day the farmer's wife noticed an unusually brilliant pebble among
the other stones that were being tossed about by the children. Soon
after she told one of her neighbors that the children had found a
curious glassy stone that sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight. On his
expressing a desire to see the stone, it was brought to him covered with
dirt. He was attracted by its brilliance and, probably surmising that it
was more valuable than common quartz crystal, offered to purchase it.
The good-wife scorned the idea of taking money for a smooth stone, and
told him laughingly that he was welcome to it.

The stone was sent by post to Grahamtown to ascertain whether or not it
was of value. To the astonishment of all concerned it was pronounced a
genuine diamond and was sold for twenty-five hundred dollars. A search
was forthwith made in the locality for other stones, but none was found.
Ten months later a second diamond was found thirty miles away on the
bank of the same river. Then quite a number of fine diamonds were found
by prospectors along the Vaal River.

In 1869 a black shepherd boy found a magnificent white diamond which was
purchased for five hundred sheep, ten oxen, and a horse. The purchaser
sold the gem for fifty-five thousand dollars, and it was subsequently
resold for one hundred thousand dollars. This superb gem became famous
as the star of South Africa.

Although a few skeptics said these stones might have been brought from
the far interior in the crops of ostriches, yet this last great find
served to attract public notice, and soon thousands of prospectors came
to seek the coveted gems. Even the stolid Boer caught the excitement,
and trekked long distances with wife and children to reach the
captivating fields.

It was a motley throng, like a mighty stream, which poured into the
valley of the Vaal. Men came hurrying in all sorts of ways, afoot, o