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158 THE DIAMOND MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA
low
hole drilled in the surface of the stone, and when he dies the next
chief does the same, and so from one to another, and the more of these
holes a stone has the higher it is in esteem, although such holes may
prejudice it if it were to be manufacÂtured ; but as that is never
intended, they do not regard such prejudice; and these stones are never
parted with, let what will happen, and if they foresee any ruin to the
family ... in such cases they bury these stones, so that they never
appear again." The other stones, comprising the small and middle size
and some of the large ones, were put in the parcels for sale unassorted
and
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"
valued by the lump, as they weigh one with another, by the rule." In
the European markets such parcels were generally bought, he states, "
by the invoice, that is before they are opened, it being always
supposed they contain the value which they were sold for in India; and
the buyer here gives the merchant such a profit as contents him. The
diamonds being thus bought, the buyer opens the parcel, separates them,
and then values them separately as his judgment directs; making to
himself likewise such a profit upon the whole parcel as he thinks
proper."1 This expert jeweller notes with regret that at the time of his
'"A Treatise on Diamonds and Pearls," David Jeffries, London, 1751, pp. 118, 119.
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