Our latest “Document of the Week”, chosen by our Editor, Nishah Malik, offers a glimpse into the development of diamond mining legislation in Griqualand West, by the British.
In 1867, the son of Daniel Jacobs, a Boer farmer, discovered diamonds in the Kimberley region (of modern day South Africa), specifically near the Orange River. His little boy, Erasmus, often collected stones along the south bank of the river for games with his friends. His mother noticed that he had collected a shiny pebble and showed it to a neighbouring farmer who thought it might have some value. It was purchased by Sir Phillip Wodehouse, the governor of the Cape colony, for £500, after the civil commissioner in Colesberg, Lorenzo Boyes, examined the pebble and discovered that it could scratch glass. This discovery transformed the region into a hub of British wealth and exploitation. A major diamond rush was sparked immediately following the discovery, with many Boer farmers and parties of prospectors rushing to the area in search of their fortune.
Following this discovery of the lucrative diamond fields, the British government proclaimed the area a British territory and named it Griqualand West in 1871. In 1880, Griqualand West was annexed by the Cape colony.
This document, which is a report from 1882, addresses illicit diamond dealing, as the British sought to secure and regulate the diamond industry. It includes a draft bill from 1862 that made licences mandatory for brokers, cutters, dealers, and exporters in Griqualand West. Detailed documentation of transactions were also required, including values, weights, and the identity of buyers. Those who failed to comply with the regulations were subject to penalties, including fines of up to £1,000, imprisonment, confiscation of their diamonds, or the suspension of their licence.
The document offers an interesting insight into British laws for the regulation of the trade of rough diamonds in the late nineteenth century.
Where to find this document
It is lifted from our primary source collection, British Colonial Rule in the Cape of Good Hope and Basutoland, 1854–1910. This tracks the administration of the Cape in remarkable detail. The sources evidence key historical trends, such as the development of infrastructure in the region, as well as the growth of key industries, such as mining. Although the Cape colony was controlled by a minority class of white settlers, the collection nevertheless provides valuable glimpses into African cultures and societies, including examples of resistance to colonialism. Visit the collection page to learn more.