St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-09
ILLICIT DIAMOND BUYING.
A Letter From the Field Which
Gives Interesting Details.


Africa, June 2.-The people engaged
in the illicit diamond traffic are often
respected and licensed buyers, and are
not confined to any class or nationality
Although Jews predominant, Europe is
well represented, as well as India and
China, and the black and white ele-
mentS of Africa itself ale not behind
Women are peculiarly ready to enter
the trade. and many of them have been
very successful. Others have had To
pay the penalty by retiring from active
life for few years.
There is a fascination to those en-
gagged in this line that far eXcelS all
other systems of gambling. In fact,
men and women who have completed
long terms of Imprisonment for this
crime can no more resist the temptation
to buy than if they had never suffered a
single days Incarceration. This has
been so apparent in the past that the
judges are empowered to pass a SELL
tence which includes punishment from
GriQualand West.
Owing to the great number engaged
in this traffic the government has been
compelled to make stringent laws to
protect its revenue and that of the COM
these laws a large number of special
detectives are employed.
1t is not surprising that such steps
should be taken. as it is calculated that
between 100000 or 100000 carats have
been stolen by native or other wOrkmen
in one year and sold TO illicit diamond
buyers, and ON an average not less than
% per cent of the actual output.
The means adopted by the detectives
to suppress this trade are varied-bu
by far the most successful, and at the
same time the most obnoxious IS that of
trapping. A native or European is
bribed to offer certain stones for sale,
and ii successful that mans evidence is
sufficient for conviction, even although
the house is raided Immediately after
ward and the detectives fail TO find the
stones. 1t would be strange place
indeed that would conceal stone from
those lynX-eyed limbs Of the law.
The hard-beaten earth floor is some
times picked up. a tub and sieve
brought in. and the soil carefully wash
ed. the legs of tables, chairs and sofas
unscrewed and well examined, wall
paper and skirting torn off, and every
article of furniture and clothing turned
upside. The food that may be cooking
VIII be Overhauled-if soup or other
Scmi-liQuid it goes through the sieve
and last. but not least, the person of the
suspected one and that of each member
of his household are searched. The te-
males will get their hair cOmbed, and
the males their teeth scTaDed. more par
ticulariy if they happen TO be false.
Ii is, however, but just to state that
the detectives rarely attempt to entEap
any one unless he Or she is well known
to be regular hand.
1t is quite within the bounds Of pos
sibility that many have suffered for this
crime who should not have done so.
This comes because of the ease with
which a rough diamond could be
dropped into an enemy'S pocket
and information given so that
an arrest would follow, and
on being searched. the stone is
found. Your look of establishment and
violent protest would be put down as
admirable acting, but the evidence of
guilt is there. In fact, you are caught
red-handed. and, if it is the first offense.
may be considered lucky if you get off
with five years at the Breakwater. The
diamond mines are worked entirely by
native labor. Every ten or fifteen men
have white Overseer in charge who re-
ceiYes a percentage on all the stones ne
or his men may pick up while
working the blue ground. This is
practically a premium on his vigil
ance, but i'm spite of the closest watch
ing some of the boys are so smart that
they can pick up and conceal gems
about their person in the most uncOn-
ceivable manner. The ear. nOstrils and
mouth are frequent repositories. and
sometimes they will elude the keenest
search by mating it into their wOOlly
hair. a kafir's c0nntenance is so i'm
movable that it rs impossible to read it.
Looking straight at his OverSeer, he
will work a diamond between his toes
and retain it there until an opportunity
offers to remove it. A dog has often
been utilized for this purpose: if the
stone is valuable, and it is risky to fix
il among the wiry hair, it is rolled in a
piece of meat and the animal made to
swallow it. At night the dog is dubbed
and the gem cut out of its stomach.
Thousands of stones have been swat
lowed to evade detection. but woe be-
tide the man. be he black or white, who is
suspected of doing so. for he is made the
object of discipline which need not be
specified. If found guilty, he stands
his trial and gets his five, ten or fifteen
. -
times. if successful IN clearing the
mine, all trouble was practically at an
end. as there was no difficulty in getting
rid of the plumber, every native being
acquainted with some one in the camp
only too willing to take and pay for all
he could bring. Since the compound
system was introduced it has become
much more difficult to transact business,
as the native cannot leave the grounds
of the company unless at stated periods.
or at the expiration OF his engagement,
and then he is rigidly searched.
A few months ago a native had com.
pleted his engagement with the De
Beers company. and. before being dis
| charged. had to be gone through in the
usual way. Taking off his coat, hat anC
| other garments, he carelessly threw
| them down beside his stick. The CHIEF
| seareher was struck by the remarkable
workmanship on the walking stick
which was made of the skin of bull
| locks tail, drawn, dried. dressed and
| beautifully bound around the handle
with thin copper wire. Picking it up
! he examined it more as curiosity thar
otherwise.
Noticing an end Of the wire slightly
! loose, he pulled it out and saw some
| thing underneath that aroused his sus
picion. He cut it right open and SHOOK
! out a few diamonds of great beauty
which were roughly valued at ovel
! e1OO. 1t is needless to say that the boy
was not discharged. Had he got cleal
| he would most probably received abOu
SO for his parcel.
| AT AUNTY,S HOJJSE