154 THE DIAMOND MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA
placed
in little heaps on a long table covered with white paper. In all cases,
except in small sizes and boart, where the weight and value only are
recorded, the number of diamonds in each heap and their average weights
and values are carefully recorded in a book kept for that purpose. This
exhibit was previously made also for the benefit of buyers calling at
the diamond office, who could thus readily value the stones ; but of
late years the entire product has been sold to a syndicate composed of
the leading diamond merchants of Holborn Viaduct and Hatton Garden,
London. The careful sorting and arrangement are nevertheless continued
in order to determine precisely what the relative quality and value of
the diamonds are in passing from level to level as the mine grows
deeper. The buyers know the exact value of every shipment they make,
and the De Beers Company must also be informed of any changes for
better or for worse in the value of its production, so as to take
advantage of them in the former case, or make allowances to the
syndicate upon the renewal of the contract, in case the quality should
become poorer. These are perhaps remote conditions, for, up to the
present time, the average monthly or annual production of diamonds has
been remarkably regular in quality.
For
the safe-keeping of the gems in the Company's office there is a strong
room or vault, built of very thick concrete walls, which are fire and
burglar proof. The door of the vault is secured by several bank locks
of the latest and best design. The keys fitting these locks are kept by
several officers in the secretary's department of the Company, who must
all be present at the opening and closing of the strong room. Inside
the strong room are burglar-proof safes, with doors also secured by
several locks, which can only be opened by two or more persons having
separate keys. In addition to these safeguards, the strong room is
protected by the application of an electric alarm system. Two armed
guards are on duty at the offices at night, and connections are made by
which they can signal for help should an attempt be made to break into
the building. Even
