About the Discovery of the Du Toit II Diamond

DU TOIT II.

The Pan Diggings, South Africa--Active Mining Operations in 1871--The first important "Find."

This stone is named after the "Du Toit's Pan," dry diggings, in South Africa. The mine belonged to Mr. Van Wyke, and it began to prove attractive to a few diamond hunters for the first time in 1870. It is situated about twenty-four miles from the Vaal river. Within a short time after the first really active operations, some fine stones were discovered, and in 1871, there sprang up quite a lively encampment of diggers. "The Pan" is now worked by several mining companies. The "Du Toit II," was found by Messrs. Stevens and Raath, on July 21, 1871. It weighed in the rough, 124 carats.