Harpending's reminiscences of financial wheeling and dealing in Arizona and California in the second half of the 19th century. Harpending had interests almost everywhere: railroads, land, high finance and, of course, mining. The great Arizona diamond mine hoax of the title is a fascinating episode from California history, which fooled most everybody involved. It was a famous diamond hoax and swindle that netted the principals over $500,000 in the early 1870s, which the author exposed.