The
swallowing of a rough diamond is evidently so easy, but so difficult to
detect, that it was necessary to put an end to the practice by
providing a longer period of detention and search. At the close of
their contracts, natives whose terms of service have nearly expired
are placed together in a commodious room capable of holding two hundred
men or more. They enter this room entirely naked. Their clothes and
baggage are deposited in sacks marked in accordance with the number on
the arm band. Blankets are supplied for clothing, and as wraps when
sleeping. They are fed, and generally well cared for, free of cost to
themselves. While in the detention room they are under strict
supervision of white guards, so that any diamonds they may have
swallowed must be left behind before they leave. Natives have been
known to keep diamonds in their bodies for over seven days. At the end
of five days of detention, generally on Saturday morning, they are
released. Meanwhile, the clothes placed in the sacks have been
thoroughly searched; and departing natives are not allowed to take away
with them anything but soft goods. In fact, they are even required to
leave their boots behind, for cunning smugglers used to insert
diamonds in their boot heels so neatly that the trick could not be
detected without cutting away the greater part of the sole of the boot.
Boots and shoes, and other articles which are not allowed to be taken
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