Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-07-04
DIAMONDS IN
ROUGH AS BIG
AS BASEBALLS
Roscoe Smith Tells
ofLfe in Africa.

Roscoe c. Smith, former Lancas-
ter resident and a graduate Of the
mining school, writes his mother,
Mrs Eta Smith of PIattevilIe, enter
taingly OF life IN South Africa Ros-
cOe says:
Maludi, Angola, March 10, 1923.
Dear Mother ard Sister
Have been waiting for letter from
you for a long time, but it has been
more than two months since I re-
ceived the last one. But expect |
will probably hear in the next mail,
which should be along any day.
suppose you will be surprised to see
that | am in a new place Have been
here two weeks now and like it fairly
Wen.
am in charge Of the richest mine
company here, and we get out dja-
monds that are as large as base balls.
Have just completed preparing
shipment OF diamonds to be sent to
Dundo. The shipment contains over
1000 carats and some Of the largest
and best diamonds that l have ever
seen.
While in Dundo part Of my work
was to classify ana value the dia-
monds from the different mines and
development work About 10000
carats per month passed through my
hands You would think il would be
wonderful to handle so many dia-
monds, but after short time it IS
just like sorting SO many pieces Of
glass.
Today was potio day and I always
hate to see Saturday come as it is one
big fight with the natives. Each man
is allotted so much, fuba 0" chOmDi
flour. This is a plant from which
tapioca is made, salt, palm Oil, beans
and dried fish. We prepare it in lots
each sufficient for five men. have
500 men working for me- 50 you can
see Just what each Saturday means.
We quit at II o'clock and the rest OF
the day is spent giving ration5.
We get no rest on Sundays, but
must make repairs on the mill. So
far seven days each week we toll and
spin But each Sunday afternoon |
have different chief come and see
me and tell me about the history IN
the past If a literary artist was
here and could hear some Of the stuff
that I have heard, it would make
wonderful book and imagine a good
moving picture story could be taken
from it.
There is Belgian here in camp
with me who is in charge Of mine
near BY We eat together, but have
separate houses.
This is a good locality to buy leop-
ard skins and elephant tusks, and |
am getting a large tusk that VIII
weigh about 100 pounds for about $40.
But to get it to the states, the cost
would be very high, SO think | snall
sell it in Kinsh8sa on the way nome.
The men you send out to buy SKINS
and tusks travel about three days
from mere or about SO miles. Right
in this section there is very little
wild game, an occasional leopard ana
lion and plenty OF antelOpes or al
kinds. Andy my dog has killed sew
eral wild dogs that come up 10 the
house at night He is very good
dog for hunting pheasants, Qualities
and other birds He has become ac-
climated and is thriving in the sun
shine Of central Africa.
saw something | though was very
funny this afternoon. A man lying
flat ON his stomach on the ground ana
another man walking UP and down on
his back. and every once in while
the man would give a quick jump ana
light on his heel This reminded me
very much Of a chiropractor, 50
asked the men what he was doing. He
said the man on the ground had
lame back and if he jumped on il, to-
morrow the soreness would be gone
SO Won see even in Darkest Africa, we
have all of the late sciences practlc-
ed
would like to be back in Platte
willie now and see some snow. Some
Ueople like the warm weather the
wear around. but if they spent
couple of years down here, think
they would soon change their minds.
But by the time this letter reaches
YOU it will almost be midsummer. |
am feeling just fine, so don't Worry
about me-
Love to all, ROSCOE.