by
rows of one story buildings of corrugated iron, divided into rooms,
each holding about twenty natives. Every provision is made for their
health and well being. There are stores which sell the necessaries of
life at reduced prices. Wood and water are supplied free of charge.
There is also a hospital with medical attention, nurses and food, free.
There is a large swimming bath in the enclosure, also a space for
games, dances, concerts, or any amusement the natives may desire. Some
of them save their wages, giving it to the superintendent to keep for
them, quite content if he will show them the money when they ask to see
it. Many of them renew their contracts again and again without leaving
the compound; some of the married men do the same, sending money to
their wives from time to time. Before leaving the compound they are
subjected to a rigorous bodily examination, and held sufficiently long
to make swallowing diamonds useless. Men of the various tribes
represented keep to themselves. There are some of almost every tribe,
Kaffirs, Hottentots, Zulus, Griquas, Fingus, Basutos, Matabilis,
Bechuanas, Swazis, Koranas and others.
The
prices obtained for Cape rough diamonds up till the time when the De
Beers Consolidation was formed, cannot be definitely stated. Prior to
that the market was open, assortments were not nearly as close as
later, and ideas of value from former conditions yet prevailed. India
and Brazil produced few stones of great size, therefore large stones
brought a big advance per carat over those of ordinary size. This idea
of relative value influenced prices for some years, until the
abundance of large stones found in the African mines
