The morning call., 1893-06-28
THE LAND OF DIAMONDS.
A Resident of South Africa Tells of
the Great Mines at Kimberley.

Detr slt free Press
James Fl. Balmer OF Kimberley was In Detroit
the other day and gave some information re-
garding the diamond mines of South Africa ana
The methods of working Them The De Beers
CONSOLIDATE ed Mining Company controls an out
put Of diamonds which amount to 500, DOC, 900
annually. Until few years ago there were
two diamond mining corporations in South
Africa, The De Beers ana the Kimberley
but The former bought the latter for &c.
100000, making payment with one certified
bank check, and thus practically securing
control OF The worlds diamond matket. the
TWO mines now being worked by the De Beers
Company" said Mr.. Balmer, cover an area of
tnlrtY-SlX square miles and reach maximum
depth of 1000 feet. or course the market Is
entirely in Europe and America. Dynamite is
employed In some places, hydraulic power IN
others and the SIMPLE pick aud AK in others.
The labor in the pit is performed entirely by
male negroes, of whom 1000 employed.
They are in charge of white Overseers, who
also supe:intend The use OF the dynamite
From The pit the rock Is wheeled IN
barrows TO a hydraulic elevator, whence 1t
il carried to the drying fields above. These
fields. or levels. are many mil s in extent, and
through all parts of them run moving endless
chains 10 which the barrows are attached.
These chains carry them, guided by negroes,
10 all parts OF the fieId. There the contents are
spread fiat upon boards, and i'll a few days
time the Intense heat OF the sun reiaxes The
rock 10 powder. From the wooden platforms
it is carried 10 washing house, where the
dirt is washed away and the diamonds remain
and cravItate TO a common center whencn they
are taken and pacA ed for shipment to different
parts of Europe.
at Is estimated that hundreds OF thousands
OF dollars worth OF the diamonds are stolen
every year by the negroes, in spite of the extra
ordinary care taken TO prevent theft and the
penalties imposed for conviction of it. Every
negro Is made to sign 4 contract when he enters
The employ of the company. 1t may be for
three months or three years. but during all the
labor 9
The entire mining property is inclosed by
barbed-wire fence Gf great height, and at each
gate an armed sentry patrols his beat. Ne
groes are neither allowed in nor ont under
any circumstances, but white men may come
and CO. after obtaining PEI mission. " hen The
negro Is about TO leave the employ of tile com
pany, he Is taken 10 guardhouS-, where lie Is
again Imprisoned for several DAYS. He Is
his woody hair, dig out his ears, his nose, and
examine bis mouth for hidden diamonds. They
feel OF his legs, his thighs, his arms. every part
of his body, and whenever lump is discovered
a knife is deXterousiy inserted and tie lump is
usually found 10 be diamond. But-and now
comes the climaX-they get at the contents of
his stomach by the inistTatiOn of powerful
physics and emetics. for the kaffir will go 10
any extreme that he may steal the precious
stones.
There Is class OF men in Soutn Africa
known as l. d. B.'s-illicil diamond buyers
who make II their business 10 buy stolen
diamonds from tile negroes. Ii is great risk
they lun. If detective sees man walking
the streets OF Kimberley, whom lie merely
suspects of having diamond in his
possession, lie may cause his arrest. II a
diamond is found on his person and he fails 10
give a satisfactory proof Of his right 10 It, he is
Tried. and. if convicted, sentenced 10 five years
penal servitude and fine OF $4,000.
The Dutch were once the supreme rulers
over south Africa, but hey are rapidly giving
way TO the English. Even in tie Dutch Re
formed Church their language is being replaced
by lie English tongue"