The "FACTS" on condition of anonymity, was able to communicate with people regularly — a few times a month — go to wash your amber in another district center. Since most miners work in local enterprises, one has to take time off from work, others — to take unpaid leave or sick leave.
I talk to the miners before their next "business trip" for amber. Three families, from small to large, are loaded into a van. Take food, water, warm clothes, air mattresses on which to sleep in tents. And, of course, tools — shovels, nets, buckets, ropes.
Getting ready, even children 12-15 years. The oldest passenger recently turned 78. Breaking about two hundred kilometers from Novograd-Volynsk in Olevsky district, these people will hard work, and in conditions dangerous for life. And still they go, because I see no other way.
Salary is only enough to pay for utilities and to buy the most necessary, — says the driver of the minibus, 35-year-old Igor. — I have three kids, each need a laptop or tablet. This is not a whim but a vital necessity. Children need to develop to keep pace with the times, and I have to worry about it. My wife can not afford to buy three tablet even credit. Have to spin. I learned from friends that you can make money in the wash of the amber. Fishing is illegal, but agree that it's still better than robbing on the highway.
— What is the depth of the pit you have to dig to get amber?
— Usually 2.5—3 meters, but sometimes 12 meters. If the amber "went", it is possible to determine the sound — it strike sharply on the shovel. In a good location is possible for the night to pan for a few pounds and earn from $ 800 up to 10 thousand.
— Why work at night?
Now everywhere you go police "Shmona", so during the day we try to sit quietly. The night the police are afraid to come into the forest and there kill and bury the can, without asking for a rank and a surname. Often local miners fighting with strangers for "fatty" places, even maim each other. It is especially dangerous to extract amber in the Korosten district — there we in the early autumn a savage beating. Godfather, the tip of the shovel cutting the hand, the neighbor who is always with us goes to the head. Me from certain death saved the spouse. When I blow in legs dropped, she lay on me, covering my body. Wife was not touched, only spat in her direction. The man from the Kyiv region, who also decided to try their luck on Korostenya, shot in both legs. Don't know whether he survives or not.
For that you dealt so cruelly?
— Local catches wind that we threw amber. We ourselves went to celebrate, he worked without respite. And then came forty people, told us to get out to another place. Of course, no one does not want to leave, a fight broke out... When we received medical treatment, decided not to go to korostens'kyi district, switched to Olevsk. To get down there, but there is much calmer.
"The guy who worked alone, alive, asleep in a hole"
— Tell us about the process. Probably has something to reinforce dug ditches?
— To strengthen the clay-sand wall is vital, otherwise they may collapse, — says Igor. — To work one is like digging your own grave. One summer, we noticed that the neighbor's pit did not come to him in the car. For the bottle of water he left on the surface, no one touched neither this nor the following day, although there was a terrible heat. It turned out the guy was literally buried alive. A terrible way to die... Actually, it's unclear why he worked alone. Beginner, I guess. Here's your tip: no need to be greedy, it is better to work together with someone and sharing a prey. Let them earn less, but will return home alive.
As a rule, in the pit at the same time working at least five people. The first digging, the second draws water, the third gives her a fourth, standing a little higher, that transmits the fifth, who pours water at the top. Constantly be sure that the sides of the pits went fissures. And someone must maintain the fire, cook, wash, look after the car, the extracted amber. We usually arrive five to seven days, at least — for three days.
Especially many miners in the may and Christmas holidays. Long weekend in the woods, even no place to put machine, not the fire. Sometimes, we enjoy a bonfire with the neighbors.
— Where we spend the night in the winter?
— As in summer in the tent or car. However, in winter try not to take their children with them. In the cold, many miners suffer, but even with a high fever no one quits his job. Took a pill and move on.
Some rented accommodation in the neighbouring villages there cook food, dry wet after work clothes. To find the accommodation is not so easy, need to book a room in the summer. In winter, many yards are hanging signs "no vacancies". We even joke: how during the summer season at the seaside.
— People of any age work with you?
— Seen seven-year-olds and ninety-year-old. And I take the kids most likely to support the spirit. People of advanced age usually work as cooks, laundresses, guards, and yet more young and strong "catch" the amber on the bottom of the pit.
— Are you using a pump?
— A good pump need a lot of money. But even if it is, you will either have to pay a "kryshevatel" that you have not touched, or to be hired, work a high-ranking official. To hide the operation of the pumps is practically impossible — it is in the forest a terrible roar. Quiet work "Chinese", but they are not as practical and powerful as a more serious manufacturer. If an ordinary prospector during the night with a shovel to get the amber one hundred dollars, one pump — tens of thousands!
There is an unwritten rule: early morning and late evening "malopolski" one hour away from their huge fuzzy pits and give the opportunity to approach them to ordinary diggers. People begin nets to catch floating in water amber. If you're lucky, for an hour, "to nudity" 200-300 grams. Amber is in fact very easy.
— Why "malopolski" show such kindness?
— This is not kindness, but a necessity. Of course, the area where the pumps, guarded by armed men, but us regular diggers, still more. Well, how many "Motopassion" — a hundred—two hundred people? And we have a few thousand. We can lash out and break them. This was last year.
"Malopolski" refused at the appointed time to let people, a riot erupted. One stabbed, another shot, a third was left disabled. Since then, FIE-FIE, "mode" was not penalized. Twice a day, like clockwork, we can go "fishing" nets. There was a case when an elderly woman pulled amber, who was sold for one hundred thousand! Dig a pensioner can not, but to fish with the net can. And like her, a lot. Someone all day waving a shovel, and someone sits and waits "approach" to fuzzy pit in the hope that some of it "extract". "Malopolski" at this time staring at the clock exactly one hour they're kicking us out saying, "Guys, thank you all, bye!"
In the woods at the same time there are several dozen inner lining, which washed the amber to the surface. The booty piled up in a heap, and we look from afar and only licks. Ordinary diggers are glad, even a bit.
Sometimes amber is not coming for a week $ 200 for five "dug up". But usually driven home through 200-300 dollars each.
— Where rent extraction?
— No problem with that. Call the guy, he comes in any time of the day, even at night, and all buying. Just need to call approx weight. Amber is calibrated in color and size, very large is much more expensive.
