It
may be that the weathering-out process to which the top layers in these
chimneys have been exposed, reduces the bulk of the material and
thereby increases the percentage of diamonds. It is also probable that
the first work was done on promising leads. All the African craters
have streaks and pockets in the diamond-bearing earth which are far
richer than the average, and men experienced in mining there, know the
indications. Some spots in the Premier carried twenty carats to the
load. At the beginning of an enterprise like the opening of the
Premier, it was but natural that the management would wish to make a
good showing, and therefore work the rich spots first, so as to get
the largest returns in the shortest time possible. Good results meant
money for development and a ready sale at good prices for the stock of
the company. Having established the mine in the public confidence, and
equipped the treasury with a surplus, the company could then afford to
work over the entire area, many parts of which were richer in
over-burden and inclusions than diamonds, conse-
