Short History of the Star of Beaufort Diamond

THE STAR OF BEAUFORT.

The comparatively Unknown Diamond Fields of South Africa--The Progress and Wealth of Griqualand West--One of many Great Diamonds.

MR. R. W. MURRAY, in a paper read before the Society of Arts a year ago, held that while the Diamonds Fields of South Africa are the least known of English territory, and have been most misrepresented, no single spot of ground in the whole world, is better worth knowing than they are. We quite agree with him in believing that no discovery of modern times is more remarkable than that of the Diamond Fields of South Africa, no portion of her Majesty's dominions has made such rapid progress in civilization and wealth; and that unless the progress of the province of Griqualand West, in which the Diamond Fields are situated, is checked by misgovernment, it will be one of the chief centres of trade, and commerce in that great country.

What is almost as remarkable as the general ignorance in regard to South Africa, is the way in which some of the diamonds discovered there become absorbed, and leave comparatively no trace of their history or their whereabouts. Take, for example the "Star of Beaufort." All that appears to be known concerning it is that, speaking of the unusual number of large stones found in the South African diamantiferous regions, Dieulafait observes that, "among the exceptional treasures were diamonds weighing considerably more than 100 carats, one of which was the beautiful 'Star of Beaufort.' Our inquiries do not at present enable us to add anything to this vague mention of a very valuable stone.