Separating the Diamonds. 



43 



diamonds of aiiy extraneous matter by boiling 

 them in a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids. 

 When cleaned they are carefully assorted again in 

 respect of size, colour, and purity." ^ The room in 

 the De Beers oiiice where they are then displayed 

 offers a most strikinir siii'ht. It is lii>'hted by laro-e 

 windows, underneath which runs a broad counter 

 covered with white sheets of j^aper, on ^vdiicli are 



In the 800 feet level of the De Beers Diamond Mine. 



laid out innumerable glistening heaps of precious 

 stones of indescribable variety. In this room ai'e 

 concentrated some 60,000 carats, the daily produc- 

 tion of the Consolidated Mine being about 5500 

 carats. " When the diamonds have been valued 

 they are sold in parcels to local buyers, who 

 represent the leading diamond merchants of 

 Europe. The size of a parcel varies from a lew 

 thousand to tens of thousands of carats ; in one 

 ^ Iloporfc, 1890, General Manager, De Beers. 



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