35 2 



The National Geographic Magazine 



thoroughly searched, and departing na- 

 tives are not allowed to take away with 

 them anything but soft goods. In fact, 

 they are even required to leave their boots 

 behind, for cunning smugglers used to 

 insert diamonds in their boot heels so 

 neatly that the trick could not be de- 

 tected without cutting away the greater 



ground affirms the beneficial effect of the 

 restrictions from dissipation and the gen- 

 eral good cheer of the workers. Mr 

 Thomas H. Leggett, an entirely independ- 

 ent and competent American witness, 

 wrote of his inspection of the men of the 

 compounds : "These chaps are well 

 cared for, contented, and happy, as 



Traction Engine for Harrowing Blue Ground 



part of the sole of the boot. Boots and 

 shoes and other articles which are not 

 allowed to be taken from the compound 

 are sold or given away to customers or 

 friends before their owners leave. 



It may be that De Beers compound is a 

 "Monastery of Labor," as was wittily 

 said by a lady visiting the fields as a cor- 

 respondent of the London Times, but the 

 testimony of all careful observers on the 



proven by the fact that many have been 

 there for years ; and the secret of it lies 

 in their not being able to get drink." 



WINNING THE DIAMOND 



The diamonds exist in a hard blue 

 ground which millions of years ago 

 gushed up from the interior of the earth 

 and filled the throats of volcanoes. 



Thousands of tons of this blue ground 



