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THE JAINA GAZETTE
Output of Diamonds. Despite the fact that only few days ago the largest diamond ever found in alluvial diggings was discovered in Kimberley, the South African diamond fields may soon lose their manopoly of the world market. The Belgian Congo, especially the Kasai district, has become a most serious competitor since the War.
In 1913 the output of the Kasai mines scarcely totalled 15,000 carats. Ten years later the output reached 415.000 carats. In 1924 the production totalled 548,000 carats; in 1925, 886,000, and in 1926 the million mark was surpassed with an output of 1,108,000 carats. This already represents one fifth of the total world's production.
These results have been achieved mainly by modernisation of the plants. The pick and other primitive instruments are methodically being superseded by excavators, steam trammels and washing machines of the latest type.
The Kasai diamonds, like all alluvian diamonds discovered so far, are of a small size and in this respect the South African fields yielding large stones still retain an unrivalled position.
The Hottest Spot On Earth. The hottest region on the earth's surface is to be found on the south-western coast of Persia, on the borders of the Persian Gulf. For forty consecutive days in the months of July and August, the mercury has been known to stand above one hundred degrees in the shade, night and day, and to run up as high as one hundred and thirty degrees in the middle of the afternoon. In Bahrein Island, which is situated in the centre of this most torrid belt, water is something unknown. Great shalts have been sunk to a depth of five hundred leet in the endeavour to find wells, but always with the same result--110 water.
A Wonderful Tree. Probably the most marvellous tree in the world is the Carnahuba palm, which grows in Brazil. It is used for many different purposes. Its roots produce the same medicinal effect as sarasparilla. From parts of the tree wines and vinegar are made. It yields also a saccharine substance, as well as a starch resembling sago. Its fruit is used in feeding cattle. The protui sometimes used as a substitute for coffee. the straw, hats white liquid, similar to the milk of the un' Icatruling maizena, max.t made. Moreover, salt is extracted baskets, bro fram and finally an alkali used in the manufacture of common soap.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com