steady rise in prices that has taken place, both these mines have now been equipped for underground working on a grand scale. The youngest of the De Beers group of mines is the Wesselton, which was discovered in 1890 by the late Mr. H. A. Ward, and soon afterwards purchased by Mr. Rhodes on behalf of the Company. The mine is now being worked opencast on a magnificent scale and has largely exceeded original expectations (Fig. 5). The success of the consolidation is proved by the fact that since it was brought about £22,000,000 have been paid in dividends to the shareholders, and it is roughly estimated that 40,000,000 carats of diamonds have been produced of a total value of eighty millions.
At the four mines about 8000 persons are daily employed, namely, 1500 whites and 6500 blacks. The wages are, whites, £5 or £6 a week ; blacks, underground, 4s. to 5s. a day, and aboveground, 21s. a week.
