Part 13 - The Sapphire Mine

Part 13  Unfortunately Friday was to be another early start with the group leaving the hotel at 0630 and without breakfast! "Well," said Paddington as the Smiths dragged themselves out of bed the next morning, "you both certainly liked to "Move it' last night!" The Smiths were feeling a little stiff from the previous day's hike and impromptu birthday party and were probably not at their best whilst being denied their first cup of coffee. The warming suns rays helped to breath some life into them which was probably for the best as the first stop of the day was at the worlds largest sapphire mining area. Here the Malagasy men dig down between fifteen and twenty five meters in order to reach the old river bed containing the gem laden aggregate. Some of the tour group gamely volunteered to lend a hand for five minutes, although the hardest part was getting into and out of the pit. The spades were so worn down from all the use that Mr Smith was heard to comment that shifting the sand up out of the pit was easier then digging the garden at home. However, Mrs Smith reminded him that he had never had to dig the garden for eight straight hours!  The biggest shock to Mr Smith's system came soon after when the group visited a gem store as Mrs Smith was still owed a birthday present! After a late breakfast the group spent the day heading north again, stopping at a small village to eat a picnic lunch and watch some boys threshing rice. Later a private reserve was visited in order to see more ring-tailed lemurs. Here Paddington travelled in a sling across Mrs Smith's back as he didn't fancy the look of the forest floor. It was a good job too as there were snakes about! Whilst there are no venomous ones in Madagascar the three foot constrictor would have given the small bear a hard time.  "Best to let Mrs Smith dance around" he thought, "and watch from a safe distance!" The one photographed was only a foot long but was not keen to be picked up by Mr Smith and made it obviously clear. At least the lemurs were far more approachable.     Paddington's fact for the day: Machinery is not allowed when digging the sapphire mine pits so the work is all carried out by hand. Some thirty men spend eight months digging each pit at 10,000 Ariary per day each (£2.30). This equates to about £17K, probably cheaper than using modern machinery!