ficulties the rim wall of shale
and basalt began to fall in, and the rain made the claims muddy and
slippery or filled them with water. At a still greater depth water began
to seep through the shale wall, and great masses of the rim occasionally
fell in endangering life and almost precluding further mining unless
concerted action were taken. So, in order to effect more economical
methods of working, a consolidation of claims began to take place.

At the Kimberley mine a double platform with staging was built around
the pit, and a series of wires running from the different claims served
as trackways on which buckets of the blue-stuff were drawn up by means
of ropes and windlasses located on these platforms.

When still greater depth had been reached and much of the rim wall had
been precipitated into the pit and rain and seepage water had made the
pits mud holes, two remarkable persons who were interested in the mines
took a leading part in solving the difficulties. These persons were
Cecil John Rhodes and Barnett Isaacs, better known as "Barney Barnato."
Rhodes owned stock in the De Beers and Barnato in the Kimberley mine. At
first they were sharp rivals in gaining control, but later they got
together and consolidated interests.

Cecil Rhodes was an English college student. He had lost his health and
had come to South Africa at the invitation of his brother, who was
interested in the diamond mines. Roughly dressed, his clothes covered
with dust, this shy, pale student, week in and week out, might be seen
looking after the Kafirs who worked his brother's claim.

Barney Barnato, a young Hebrew of keen foresight, likewise had a brother
in South Africa. The latter, who was engaged in diamond buying, urged
Barney to come at once to this famous region, setting forth the
wonderful opportunities offered for business. Barnato forthwith packed
his few belongings and took the next steamer for Cape Town. He was only
twenty years old and was bubbling over with good-natured energy; but he
was quick to perceive and quick to act.

Although he had but a few dollars with which to start in business, yet
by indomitable energy and shrewd management he soon acquired sufficient
money to buy a few small claims in the famous Kimberley mine. To these
claims he constantly added others until he became one of the leading
stockholders in the mine.

When the rival mines began to undersell each other and diamonds were
being sold for but little m