Ch. 10: Diamond Mining & Meteorites

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	208	THE DIAMOND

	declared; 1,414 from the Potari and other districts, the balance from the Mazaruni district. In 1902-3 the entire district registered at the Department of Lands and Mines, 163,680 diamonds weighing 10,446 carats. They were mostly marketed in London at $6.00 to $10.00 per carat. In 1903-4 the yield was about the same; 164,315 diamonds weighing 10,742 carats. Later reports show a falling off. In the calendar year 1905, only 86,096 stones weighing 5,315 carats were produced. Shipments in 1907 were 2,220 carats valued at $17,550 and in 1908, 4,968 carats valued at $40,872, but the indications are that the companies do not find it sufficiently remunerative to prosecute the work with much vigor. The fiscal year of 1908-9 shows improvement; 56,982 stones weighing 5,189 carats were reported. Some believe that persistent development with sufficient outlay to place the fields in better communication with the outside world, would pay eventually, but with the meager results hitherto, and the lack of encouragement which an occasional find of a large stone would give, capital does not seem inclined to take further risks. Machinery has been introduced of late years, but the cost of transportation is very high, and with alluvial deposits, unless they are very rich and so situated that the machinery can be installed and moved without great expense, it is doubtful if the use of it pays as well as the old methods. In the old way of working claims, one man shoveled the gravel and clay into a wheelbarrow; four men wheeled it to the place where the stuff was worked. There, two men melted it in a "tarn"; two cradled it; two jagged the sieves, and two or three worked at the sorting table where the gravel was searched. It was practically the same

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