THE MINES BESIEGED	259
	took possession of the Kimberley Waterworks Company's plant on the Vaal River, some sixteen miles distant, and cut off the water-supply. Connections were made between Premier mine pumping system and the Kimberley Waterworks Com­pany's reservoir, and a supply of eight to ten million gallons of water per month was delivered by De Beers, free of cost to that Company, on the understanding that only half rates should be charged to the inhabitants of the town. The water was perfectly clear, pure, and wholesome. As the supplies of food in hand seemed ample for any emergency that was thought possible, there were practically
	no restrictions upon the consumption of supplies during the early part of the siege, except that the amount of meat was fixed at one pound per diem for each adult, and one-quarter of a pound for children under fifteen years of age. As there were no restrictions as to prices, the speculating part of the community soon took advantage of the situation. Few had laid in stocks of food, and, as the greater number of people had not the means of making large purchases, they saw starvation staring them in the face. It was impossible for many even to purchase their daily requirements at the fabulous prices to which the necessaries of life suddenly rose. Paraffin, which usually sold for 15 shillings a case, jumped to 100 shillings. Naturally the community rebelled against this extortion, and the daily