Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-21

whose ndnQS pass between
and $20,O0O,00O worth of the gems every
year. In July, 1900. the largest pile of
diamonds ever collected in one place on
earth was stacked upon a table in the
Office of the companys directors. 1t filled
cubic meter measure, weighed about
12O00,000 carats and represented value
of $76,00O0O0 "in the rough"
The DeBeers mines employ 10000 men,
1000 of whom are negroes. A half of
these work underground in three eight-hour
shifts. Thus these vast ant hills are con-
tinually storing up wealth without rest,
save the Sabbath. The negro miners
receive So cents day from contractors
who mine and deliver upon the floors
the diamond bearing blue ground at
price per load. Every employee of the mines
receives a percentage on the value of all
diamonds which he finds. On the floors the
white men allowed SO cents and the
negroes cents per carat. A bounty near
ly double this percentage is paid for stones
found in the galleries.
The II 900 negro miners. are lodged and
fed in seventeen large walled compounds.
One of these. four acres in extent, accom-
modates 5000 inmates Each compound is
arranged with an open central court for
exercise and sports. About this are iron
cabins, with rooms 2jX30 feet lighted bv
electricity. Twenty TO twenty-five natives
sleep in each room. upon tiers of wooden
hunks. Within these compounds are stores.
dispensartes, churches Conducted by mis-
sionarieS) and schools which occupy the
church buildings week days In the
crete swimming pool, which the negroes are
compelled to patronize.
Insurance Against Smugglers.
Insurance against the theft and snug
CLING of it's precious products has been re-
duced to perfect system by this great
company. Each compound is covered by a
fine wire netting, which prevents the toss
ing of diamonds over the walls. When a
new laborer enlfsts he is stripped his
clothes being searched to prevent the
smuggling in of any article which might
be used to secrete the gems He is also
deprived of any liquor or playing cards
which he may have on his person. expert
ence having proved that these articles are
TO the detr-ment of the perfect Discipline
maintained in the mines. The new appli-
cant signs a written contract, binding
himself to live within the compound and
work for a period of not less than three
months. From each compound the mines
are entered through open shafts LEADING
into the subterranean galleries Each ma
tive wears wrfstband bearing an identifi-
cation number.
Natives leaving the employ of the mines
arc now required to strip and enter pro-
baton Enclosure. remaining there five days
While in this quarantine they are allowed
only blankets for vestment. Their clothes
are carefully examined meanwhile. Gems
are often found in boot heels canes and
dinner pals with false bottoms But the
i've days of proba ton are not required by
tiio tnoiouSH search OF the clothing Ma
tives on the point of leaving the mines Of
ten swallow diamonds in abundance.
Swallowed $3.50.
In 1895 one negro swallowed rough stones
worth $3.50, without suffering Indigestion
These blacks. according to Mr. williams
have no apparent fear of swallowing any
stone that can be forced down their
threats. One diamond as large as a dig
chestnut and weighing 152 carats was late
ly swallowed by a native and hidden in
this way for over seven days. Similar ex-
peIiences have demonstrated that the pro-
baton period of five days might well be
extended.
One native working in the De Beers mine
lately made an incision under his shin
bone and concealed therein several small
diamonds wrapped in rag. In the course
of the daily medical inspection this negro
showed symptoms Of tetanus. The in
spector lanced the wound and pulled out the
rag full of gems.
When finally dismissed from the probation
Enclosure each naked negro is subjected to
a rigid final search. He holds up each foot
while an inspector looks between his toes.
He leaves the compound gate barefooted
1t is the rule that all boots must be left
behind. To thoroughly search them means
their total destruction.
The equipment of the De Beers company
is thoroughly up to date. Compressed air
has now completely replaced steam through
out its entire underground service Large
cold storage plants have been established
to supply employees with cheaper meat. A
large dynamite factory is being erected to
supply explosives for all the South African
mines
How Syndicate Sells.
This great company also dominates the
De Beers diamond selling syndicate, which
supplies the diamond markets of the entire
world. This syndicate disposes Of its gems
only in series" as the parcels OF rough
diamonds bought by cutters are called
Each parcel is made up Of many varieties
of diamonds In other words, when a
dealer buys 'series" he has no pick but
must take every quality OF diamond found