DOWN IN A DIAMOND MINE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3017, 14 November 1891, Page 5 (Supplement)

DOWN IN A DIAMOND MINE.

In Blaokwood's Magazine, Lieut.-Colonel Knollvs gives an interesting account of a "Diamond-digging in South Africa." The descent of one of the mines is thus described : —

Although there is not a secret whatever in any part of the operations, it is obvious that the mo9t stringent precautions are necessary to prevent tho easy theft of such multurn in paroo treasures as precious stones ; and therefore it is reasonably required that all visitors shall be provided with u permit to inspect the works. Tho diarnondiferous urea is enclosed and screened by means of high barbed wire fencing and lofty corrugated iron hoarding, as skilfully disoosed as one of Vauban's fortresses ; and is further safeguarded externally at nisht by numerous armed patrols, and by powerful electric lights casting? a glare on every spot otherwise favourable to intending marauders. After having been somewhat carefully scruntinised I am admitted through a narrow gateway, and find myself confronted with a gigantic, apparently bottomless, pit, compared with which the crater of Vesuvius would bo puny, and ■which marks the earlier scone of openground labour In course of time huge masses of earth bewail to slip down from tho sides, entailing such peril, and— far inoro importaut to the eajrer owners—such a clogging of work, that the original process was abandoned in favour of sinking shafts and subterraneous mining. Equipped in minors »lop<, supplied with a bare candle, and chaperoned by one of the superintendents. am shot down an ordinary incline to a depth of 700 ft. below the surface, whence we further descend anothor 90ft. bymeans of slipf ervperpendicularladders, leadingdu wn piercings ju<t large enoush to admit the body. Here we reach a widened level at tho very heart of tho diamond-bearing earth, which is hot, stifling and intensely dark. Long low tunnel 9 radiate through a scene of which the principal features are rushing trucks, flickering lights, and shouting workmen, oommon to all largo mining operations, and calling for no special description. Only by degrees I notice characteristics of detail so stranee as to causo these mines to differ from all others. Hundreds of Kaffirs are plying pick and shovel, wheeling barrows, and tilting trucks, with a micrht-and-main earnest nes« rare amongst natives. Althouvrh they differ greatly in size shades of darkness, owing to tho variety of tribes gathered together from far apart districts of South Africa, they are, on tho whole, of fine physical development, with smooth lustrous skins and tense brawny muscles, J and sweltering profusely under their tremondous exertions. Scantiness of clothing was to be anticipated, but in no par* of the world—not even in Japan— j bavo I seen a multitude of hnroan boinsrs 1 so perfectly unabashed as to be siigirestive of the unomisciou»ness of the very beasts of the field. They work in shifts of twelve hourx' duration, Sunday being a general rest day, and each native receives about five shillings a day—an enormous sum for the aborigines, which gives rise to keen competition for employ ment. Large jraugs are supervised by single European, who strongly exemplify the moral influence of race. Instant, cheerful, unquestioning obedience is the rule ; occassionly a rontrh hustle or a smack with the palm of tho hand is bestowed on the lasrirard or the careless; hut when justly administered this is never resented, and acareful observation of tho demeanor a friundly verbal intercsurtte between superintendents and labourers failed to reveal to me any signs of habitual bodily tyranny. Without doubt, outbursts of the whifo man's brutality occasionally occurr. During my stay at Kimberley a European was tried for havinur caused by violence the death of a native, and after a fair trial w is acquitted. Yet, on the whole, there is no reason to believe that our rulo isch tr u:j terised by cruelty, an air of happy contentment was generally prevaleut.