Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-10-03


A fine wire netting is stretched
over the top of the compound TO pre-
vent the sly tossing of precious crys-
tails over the walls, TO be picked up
by confederates outside the mining
areas. Precautions are also taken TO
prevent the smuggling away ..--
monds from the compounds, and "a
communication by the natives vita
persons outside the walls is carefully
restricted. Until the expiration of his
contract, no native can go through
the compound gate except by special
permission of when he is taken under
guard before a magistrate for some
offense. Ii convicted when his term OF
Imprisonment expires or after he has
paid his fine he mist return 10 the
compound and complete his con-
tract. Before leaving the compound his
clothes and person are thoroughly
searched to prevent the disappearance
of diamonds with them. Gems were
sometimes found secreted in clothing.
or shoe heels, or canes, or cans with
false bottoms-in fact, in anything
that the natives were allowed to take
out with them. Even this close inspec-
ton did not bar the practice or steal
ing, and there was an inexplicable
trickle of diamonds from unlooked-for
quarters until it became known that
natives on the point of leaving the
compound were swallowing diamonds
and conveying them away.
In 1895 one native had the nerve
and capacity to swallow a lot Of dia
monds worth $50 pounds, and did not
appear TO suffer from this strain on
digestion. There has been only one
authentic instance where a native
has embedded diamonds in his flesh;
this was done by native in De Beers
convict station, who made an incision
under the shin bone and concealed
several small diamonds wrapped in a
rag This native had symptoms of t.
tanus, and the visiting physician
searched the mans body, and finding
an ugly looking wound on his leg, cut
1t open, and to his great surprise found
a rag full of diamonds The native
soon recovered, a wiser, If a poorer,
man. There is no apparent fear OF
swallowing any stone which can be
forced through the throat, and in one
instance a diamond as big as a large
chestnut and weighing 152 carats
was hidden for seven days by this
means.
The swallowing of a rough diamond
is evidently so easy, but so difficult to
detect, that it was necessary to put an
end to the practice by providing 1
longer period of detention and search.
AT the close of their contracts, natives
whose terms of service have nearly
expired are placed together in a CON
modious room capable u holding two
hundred men or more. They enter
this room entirely naked. Their
clothes and baggage are deposited in
sacks marked in accordance with the
number on the arm band. Blankets are
supplied for clothing and as wraps
when sleeping. They are fed, and gen.
orally cared for, free of cost to them.
selves. While in the detention room
they are under strict supervision OF
white guards, so that any diamonds
they may have swallowed must be LETT
behind before they leave. Natives
have been known to keep diamonds in
their bodies for over seven days. At
the end of five days of detention, gen
orally on Saturday morning, they are
released. Meanwhile the clothes plac.
ed in the sacks have been thoroughly
searched, and departing natives are
not allowed to take away with them
anything but soft goods. In fact, they
are even required to leave their boots
behind, for cunning smugglers used to
insert diamonds in their boot heels so
neatly that the trick could not be de.
tected without cutting away the great
part OF the sole Of the boot. Boots and
shoes and other articles which are not
allowed to be taken from the com.
pound are sold or given away to Gus.
toners or friends before their owners
leave.
ASAAata1 II. 4SSS6GLlF all lUucpeQu
ent competent American witness
wrote of his inspection of the men of
the compounds These chaps are
we'll cared for, contented, and happy.
as proven by the fact that many have
been there for years; and the secret
Of it lies in their not being able to ger
drink"
The diamonds exist in hard blue
ground which millions of years aga
gushed up from the interior Of ne
earth and filed the threats of volca.
noes.
Thousands of tons of this blue
ground are brought up daily from a
depth of more than ona thousand feet
and spread over the floors. These
floors are made by removing the bush
and grass from fairly level stretch IS
Of ground. After clearing the face of
the ground it is hardened and smooth.
ed with heavy rollers until it is III
for use.
After the blue ground has been
spread out 1t is necessary to wait
patiently until the sun and rain have
contributed their service in disinter.
grating of the breccia. The effect of
the exposure of this curious compound
to heat and moisture is very remark.
able. Large pieces OF blue, which are