484 Mr. William Crookes [June 11, 



others swim, aud these swimmers can easily be skimmed from the 

 surface. 



With gems like diamonds, where infinite riches are concentrated 

 in so small a bulk, it is not surprising that safeguards against rob- 

 bery are elaborate. The Illicit Diamond Buying (I.D.B.) laws are 

 stringent, and the searching, rendered easy by the " compounding " of 

 the natives, is of a drastic character. In fact, it is very difficult for a 

 native employe to steal diamonds ; even were he to succeed, it would 

 be almost impossible to dispose of them, as a potential buyer would 

 prefer to secure the safe reward for detecting a theft rather than run 

 the serious risk of doing convict work on the Cape Town Breakwater 

 for a couple of years. Before the passing of the " Diamond Trade 

 Act " the value of stolen diamonds reached nearly one million sterling 

 per annum. 



One great safeguard against robbery is the " compound " system 

 of looking after the natives (Fig. 15). A " compound " is a large 

 square, about 20 acres in extent, surrounded by rows of one-story 

 buildings of corrugated iron. These are divided into rooms each 

 holding about twenty natives. A high iron fence is erected around 

 the compound, 10 feet from the buildings. W ithin the enclosure is a 

 store where the necessaries of life are supplied to the natives at a 

 reduced price, and wood and water free of charge. In the middle is 

 a large swimming-bath with fresh water running through it. The 

 rest of the space is devoted to games, dances, concerts, and any other 

 amusement the native mind can desire. In case of acci^lent or illness 

 there is a well-appointed hospital where the sick are tended. Medical 

 supervision, nurses and food are supplied free by the Company. 



As a rule the better class of natives — the Zulus, Matabeles, 

 Basutos, Bechuanas — when well treated, are honest and loyal. 



In the compound are to be seen representatives of nearly all the 

 picked types of African tribes (Fig. 16). Each tribe keeps to itself, 

 and to go round the buildings skirting the compound is an admirable 

 object lesson in ethnology. At one point is a group of Zulus; 

 next we come to Fingoes ; then Basutos ; beyond come Matabele 

 (Fig. 17), Bechuanas, Pondos, Swazis, and other less-known tribes, 

 each forming a distinct group, or wandering around making friendly 

 calls. We went one afternoon to the l)e Beers compound when most 

 of the natives were assembled, and having a camera with me I was 

 naturally glad to get as many photographs as I could. I have to 

 thank Captain Dallas, Mr. Moses, and Mr. Mandy, the Superintend- 

 ents of the respective compounds, who speak all the dialects fluently, 

 for their kindness in showing us round aud improvising dances and 

 concerts (Fig. 18), for the benefit of my camera. 



The clothing in the compound is diverse and original (Fig. 19). 

 Some of the men are great dandies, whilst others think that in so hot 

 a climate a bright coloured pocket-handkerchief or " a pair of spec- 

 tacles and a smile " is as great a compliance with the requirements of 

 civilisation as can be expected. 



