NATAL, 
 
 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE 
 
 A 
 
 GRAZING, AGRICULTURAL, and COTTON-GROWING 
 
 COUNTRY. 
 
 COMPRISING 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF THIS WELL-ENDOWED COLONY, 
 
 FROM THE YEAR 1575 TO THE PRESENT TIME, 
 
 BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND TRAVELLERS. 
 
 WITH 
 
 A MAP OF THE COLONY, AND ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 BY J. S. CHRISTOPHER, 
 
 OF NATAL. 
 
 WITH AN APPENDIX, 
 
 AND A 
 
 VOCABULARY OF THE NATAL OR ZULU LANGUAGE. 
 
 “ The happy prosperity to be enjoyed at the Cape, which has encouraged me in my task, is a subject 
 of distrust to many, from the fears of such a Colony obtaining early independence. The fallacy is 
 plain. — God has created this beautiful earth to be inhabited by the noblest of his creatures, and his 
 first command was, Multiply. In obedience to this precept, the most ancient races sent forth 
 Colonies ; from them we have sprung; and our Colonies will, by the same process, become Nations like 
 ourselves. We may prevent this for a time, but nature triumphs at last. — The late Baron Van 
 Hooerdop. 
 
 He that tilleth his land, shall be satisfied with bread. 
 
 In 1626, the whole State and City of New York, was purchased for £6 sterling. In 1349, it 
 contained 2,174,517 intelligent inhabitants. Such is Colonization. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 EFFINGHAM WILSON, ROYAL EXCHANGE; HATCHARD & SON, PICCADILLY; 
 
 AND TRELAWNY SAUNDERS, 6, CHARING CROSS. 
 
 1 85 0. 
 
 DEAN AND SON, PRINTERS, THRF.ADNEEDLE-STREET. 
 

 2S e 
 
 29 
 
 26' 
 
 27 
 
 28' 
 
 29' 
 
 3Z 
 
 CONDENSED GOVERNMENT REPORT OE PRODUCTIONS, &c. OF THE 
 
 SEVERAL DIVISIONS OF NATAL. 
 
 1, D’URBAN.— Will sustain a dense population. — Cotton yields a superior am abundant crop. — Sugar and Indigo thrive,— 
 
 Coffee has been introduced, and grows well.— Soil is rich, end favourable for Barley, Oats, &c. as well as 
 Beans, and most descriptions of Vegetables. — (Beans are exported). — Well supplied with Water. With 
 the exception of Mangrove, there is little timber for building. Waggon wood is found, 
 
 2, PETER MARITZBURG. — A good grazing and superior agricultural division; abundantly watered, and capable of irriga- 
 
 tion to almost any extent. Vegetation is very rapid in this and all the other districts; the grass conse- 
 quently grows rank and strong, so as, generally, only to admit of the larger description of Stock, such a3 
 Cattle and Horses, being depastured upon it with advantage in summer. Valuable Timber, adapted for 
 building purposes and furniture, grows in several parts of this division. 
 
 3, UMVOTI, — This division comprises some of the finest land in this part of South Africa, either for Grazing or Agricultural 
 
 purposes. The capabilities of the South-Eastern part of it, are similar to those of D’TTrban, but Cattle 
 thrive better, and the upper portion of it is more favourable to the Grazier than Mari rg division.— 
 It is abundantly supplied with Water, and some good Timber is found on it. 
 
 4, IMPAFANE,— -This tract was very thickly populated by the Dutch farmers, and has always been regarded by them as 
 
 healthier for Cattle than either of the three former divisions. Sheep have thrived well in seme parts of 
 it, and although, perhaps, not so capable of maintaining over its whole surface so dense a population as 
 the other three divisions, yet it is equally able to do so in localities and at the village of Weenen, and 
 along the banks of the Mooi river, and particularly Bushman’s river. Wheat and Oats have been grown 
 largely and with success. The soil, at the village of Weenen, is especially fertile excellent Garden 
 land, the Vine, Fruit Trees, Vegetables , Sfc. thriving well. Coal is found along the banks of the Bushman’s 
 river. Some Building Timber at the base of the Quathlamba mountains. 
 
 5, UPPER TUKELA, — Cattle thrive well in this division, and sheep in the lower part of it. Its general capabilities, 
 
 soil, &c. are the same as those of the Impafane. Yellow wood abounds under the feiuathlamba moun- 
 tains, and Coal of fair quality on the north side of the Tukela. 
 
 6, UMZINYATI. — This division has been esteemed as particularly favourable for Sheep and Cattle. It has also been 
 
 largely cultivated by the Dutch farmers. Anthracitic Coal is found near the Washbanks and Sunday 
 rivers, and in abundance, and of excellent quality, in the ravines, between the Biggar’s Berg and the 
 Umzinyati river. Excellent Timber may be obtained in this division. 
 
 7, UMZIMKULU.™ Two divisions will be formed of that portion of country south and south-west of the Umkomanzi to the 
 
 8, TIMBEZANArUmzimkulu. It is well watered, well wooded with small and large Timber. Land near the sea fit for 
 
 Cotton . Farther inland much richer, producing many Tropical fruits. Vegetation luxuriant.. Still 
 further inland, a stiff and apparently stronger soil. It is an open, hilly, and undulating country.— 
 Pasturage, in general, good, excepting near the sea coast. (This district has been surveyed expressly 
 for J. S. Christopher.) 
 
 9, DRAKENBERG.— i A hilly, rich, grassy, well-wateied, well-wooded country, generally open and . undulating. In 
 
 10. INGALI. — . — J some places this tract of country is mountainous, and with plenty of streams and springs. 
 
 11. UMZ1MVOOBU. i Except near the coast, the whole tract of country lying between these rivers is totally uninhabited. 
 
 r and undulating, but open, — rich, grassy, and well-watered by numerous rivers and 
 and generally abounding in large Timber, excepting near the coast, where the Timber is 
 
 not so gross. 
 
 The Resources of this Colony are confessedly' great, and in our opinion equal, if not superior, to any British colony, both as 
 respects fertility of soil and abundance of water. 
 
 The Climate is most healthy, and subject to none of the epidemics incidental to other part of Africa. 
 
 The Natives inhabiting this Colony are widely different from those on the Frontier of the old Colony, and are valuable 
 and indispensable assistants to the White Settler. The presence of so many natives, most of them 
 available as labourers, should be an inducement to Emigrants to select this Colony as the land ol' 
 their adoption. 
 
 Its general capabilities are of the highest class, either for agricultural or grazing purposes. It contains an area of 
 18,000 square miles, within which is fqnnd every material for improvement and prosperity. 
 
 . vT C-XUXTi ’A” - - _ / " ” ; -a „ — . — 
 
 
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 Free Stone in abundance. Also Iron Ore in great abundance, and of a superior quality. 
 Finally. We are of opinion that this district, inhabited by an industrious White Population, 
 will produce valuable exports, both in amount and quality, and that 
 it is capable of maintaining a denser population than the colony of 
 the Cape of Good Hope; and we trust that its resources and 
 advantages may not become lost to the subjects of the British 
 crown, from their not; being represented as their high 
 merits appear to us to deserve. 
 
 Wm. STANGER, Surveyor General. 
 
 T. SHEPSTONE, Diplomatic Agent. 
 
 C. J. GIBB, Lieut. Royal Engineers. 
 
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 Surveyor Gen! of Natal. 
 ADJACENT COUNTRTRY THE REV. J, ALLISON. 
 
 
 1&>. alerjMsrw. 
 
 b ROUTE TO COLESBERGJN THE CHPE COLONY, jrae*** 
 
 BY CAP I JERVOJS, RE. 
 
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 COMPILED & PUBLISHED BY J. S. CHRISTOFHEK, Tr eal 
 1UTH0R OF "EMIGRATION TO NATAL. FOR 1000 
 FAMILIES, WITH 50 ACRES EACH, 
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 .37 
 
PREFACE 
 
 
 
 *<i 
 
 if ON THE GOOD AND THE NECESSITY OF 
 
 !- i '' * 
 
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 4 
 
 .1 
 
 EMIGRATION. 
 
 Emigration is the means of England's national salvation. This 
 supposes, all national vanity aside, that she is now in a perilous con- 
 dition. It is admitted ; and it is proved by the extent and depth of 
 a wide-spread poverty, and by the number of incarcerated convicts. 
 Wealth is become centralized in England; it is held by the few, not 
 by the many. And the greater the poverty, the more firmly will it 
 be held. 
 
 In the Cape colony there are neither poor nor poor laws : but from 
 one of their papers the poverty of England is established. “ In the 
 quarter ending at Lady Day 1847, the number of persons relieved 
 under the poor-law in England and Wales was 1,471,133 : the cases 
 of out-door relief amounted to 1,244,554. The total expenditure for 
 the year ending at the same period was £4,674,569; the cost of out- 
 door relief, £2,970, 180.’' This, be it remembered, is exclusive of 
 Ireland and Scotland, and also exclusive of those private charities for 
 which the English nation is so justly famous, amounting perhaps to as 
 much more. 
 
 All the causes of this deep distress it is not my design to attempt 
 to trace here. We know it is a great fact; we know the fact is mag- 
 nifying every year, and that with all the efforts of honest industry, 
 that more are taken into the vortex. But while we are able to track 
 the course of a comet, surely we ought to be able to trace and de- 
 scribe one mighty cause of this evil : that one alone I will mention : 
 The area of England is too little ! population is the mighty heart of 
 a nation : and that population now wants more room to beat in. 
 
 0 England ! model of thy inward greatness, 
 
 Like little body with a mighty heart, — 
 
 What might ’st thou do, that honour would thee do, 
 
 W ere all thy children kind and natural ! 
 
 1 
 
 ►'■A 
 
 But it is useless to bewail that kindness and nature do not beat so 
 heartily as of old, and that selfishness is more and more dominant in 
 every man. Necessity has no law, — and pinching poverty, even 
 among those who wear good broad cloth, forbids the hope that it can 
 be otherwise. In convict settlements respectable settlers are careful 
 of companions for themselves and families ; in England, if a man is 
 convicted of povertiy , is he not shunned ? Is there not an astringent 
 on the merciful bowels of society ? In short, are not the necessities 
 
 40 
 
 oo 
 
 I o Q 0 S 
 
 a \ 
 
 It 
 
 ? O C- O 4 
 
 
4 
 
 even of the middle classes now beginning to cause a deadness of feel- 
 ing for others? And is there not something like excuse for it? He 
 that careth not for his own, is worse that an infidel. In short, all 
 society wants relief : there may be, and there are, millionares; but we 
 have discovered, of late, and shall continue to do so periodically, that 
 many of those reputed to be so, sustain a state which their annual 
 clear incomes from rents and profits do not altogether justify. Then 
 comes the crash, the ruin, the suspension of trade, the increase of 
 poverty; and, when the cup is full, the increase and outbreak of crime. 
 General poverty is the head and front of European revolutions. Eng- 
 land^ watchmen must look out, lest the dismal night come upon them 
 unawares. They must provide against it. And a happy thing it is, 
 under God’s blessing, that they can do so. 
 
 But first, what is this confined area of England, Ireland, and Scot- 
 land? It is 90,000 square miles. What its population? 28,000,000; or 
 308 souls to every square mile. There is nothing like this in the wide 
 world. Take France, Austria, and Prussia, together, where revolu- 
 tions have taken place, and the average per square mile is only 204. 
 In Russia it is only 2| per square mile. Can any one doubt for an 
 instant that this is a redundant, a surplus population? We are 
 crammed, and jammed, and unable in this area to exercise all our 
 powers. Is a room crowded with people the place to obtain or retain 
 health ? When some walk out, is it not more wholesome for all ? The 
 room in England is crammed ; and we must encourage the redund- 
 ancy to fill the other lands we possess. This points to emigration. 
 
 But first a word on expatriation ; and I address this as well to the 
 government as to capitalists and manufacturers. 
 
 For the last ten years, we have poured into the United States of 
 America about 100,000 people annually, that is 1,000,000 of people. 
 Now it is a singular ascertained fact, the States being, to a great ex- 
 tent, manufacturers, that these million of Englishmen consume of our 
 fabrics, piece goods, hardware, &c. only 5s. 6d. worth every year; 
 whereas had they gone to Natal, Cape of Good Hope, or Australia, 
 £7 10s. worth. Take then this population as consumers; 
 
 1,000,000 of people in our own Southern Colonies con- 
 sume at £7 10s. . . . . . . £7, 500,000 
 
 In the United States they encourage our trade only to 
 
 the extent of 5s. 6d. per head ..... 281,250 
 
 Loss sustained to our trade by not directing emigration 
 
 to the Southern colonies ...... £7,218,750 
 
 Let statesmen and manufacturers think of this, and not make so 
 much of foreign trade. 
 
 Of all our manufactured goods the population of Russia consumes 
 7 ^d. per head ; that of the German league 8|d. ; of the French em- 
 pire, about Is. 5d. ; of the United States, 5s. 6d.; of Canada, £1 15s.; 
 and of Australia, £7 10s. per pead per annum. As customers, there- 
 fore, for our produce and manufactures, every man, woman, and child 
 in your Southern colonies is worth four Canadians, twenty-seven 
 
5 
 
 Americans, one hundred Frenchmen, and two hundred Russians and 
 Germans. Blink not this fact. 
 
 Of cotton goods, the United states and all our emigrants who go 
 there, consume only lOd. a head, in Australia, 19s. 6d. per head; at 
 the Cape of Good Hope, £1. And are not you, ministers of state, 
 you, members of parliament, and manufacturers, led, nay, bound 
 by interest, to render yourselves independent of America for the raw 
 material of your principal export ? While Natal and Australia can 
 supply you with cotton, will you be listless on this vital question? 
 To hold such splendid colonies, and not to encourage them, is as bad 
 as depopulating an English country by bad government. What ! is 
 England now full, and is the increase of her population, notwith- 
 standing her emigration, the awful number of 365,000 per annum ? 
 What can you do but assist in their removal to your Colonies ? Can 
 you, undismayed, look forward to your population ten years hence 
 being four millions more than at present? French labourers requir- 
 ing to be fed, caused the revolution there. Take care, or it will do 
 the same here, notwithstanding the inherent loyalty of Englishmen. 
 All Europe has been craving for bread and labor. In England, revolu- 
 tion attempted by chartists and others, has been deferred : thanks to 
 the two institutions amongst you; your above-cited poor-law, and 
 your savings banks. But beware lest your poor law become too bur- 
 thensome to pay : take care that you have not to distrain. Amidst 
 your increased distress! beware of that. When that day comes, the 
 savings banks will be your ruin. Then will the evil day, even for the 
 rich, arrive. The poor must be paid, and the poor will claim bread 
 also. That will be a note of dismay indeed.* It will seize all. Let 
 us then grow wise, using our means wisely ; and those incubuses, as 
 some affect to call the colonies, will be our salvation, as a people, and 
 a prosperous people too. The money invested in the savings banks, 
 club subscriptions, the poor law, and other charities, are your secu- 
 rities for peace at home. If cancelled by increasing poverty and want 
 of means, among the classes at present better off, the lower classes 
 being no longer under bond for good behaviour, will be found restive 
 beyond social controul or legal restraint. That will be an evil day 
 indeed ! and every man is called on to do his best to meet the case, 
 or to ward off the evil. Thus do I lay earnestly Emigration before 
 the community as the natural safety valve for England’s sons and 
 daughters. 
 
 * Look at your population increased since 1810 at the rate of 60 per cent, but 
 crime 420 per cent. England is on a precipice. Let Emigration then be encouraged 
 in every possible way. Every man that is enabled to emigrate, enables one to come 
 out of the workhouse, and prevents another going to the jail. Look at your convict 
 stock now on hand, 60,000 ! Well might one of Her Majesty’s ministers say to me, 
 
 R hat can we do with these convicts in case of an uproar with Chartists ?” Do ? Form 
 a new convict station : and further honest emigration to every colony. If it is not 
 done, the expense of criminals to the country will, in a few years, run a race with, 
 poor rates. The maintenance alone of these 60,000 criminals amounts to a million ster- 
 ling now. Left alone, weeds grow faster than any crop that is planted ; and crime 
 propagates itself. It is already a greater scourge on the nation than any physical 
 epidemic. Let the words be repeated: while population increases sixty percent., 
 crime increases four hundred and twenty per cent ! 
 
6 
 
 You have lately discovered, small comparatively as the foreign trade 
 of England is., that, different institutions prevailing there, the com- 
 munity may be disturbed. Their trade in all such cases, and gene- 
 rally it may be feared, will decrease. Similar institutions to those of 
 England existing in our colonies, you will not be subject to these 
 alternations of trade resulting from political outbreaks. High stations 
 are deeply responsible : who can measure it ? But nevertheless cou- 
 rage and stern virtue can do much. Principles that have passed as 
 sound, must be questioned. They may be right, or otherwise. It 
 has been said that commerce cannot be forced. That is a mistake. 
 Direct that 100,000 emigrants towards your own colonies, and you 
 will at once force a trade of £7,000, 000 sterling, and no mistake. 
 Or will you let them deport themselves, without your aid, to that 
 country of which you begin to be jealous as rival manufacturers and 
 almost the only growers of cotton ? Look again at the bare possibi- 
 lity of your labourers demanding and getting 3 francs, or 2s. 6d. a 
 day for creating anarchy : can England bear further burthens, with a 
 debt of £800,000,000 about her neck ? Scan the horizon : it would be 
 a fearful prospect, did we not in the distance see more unoccupied 
 land belonging to us, and titter for us, by its salubrity, than all Eu- 
 rope put together. These are the anchors of your hope. 
 
 A CALL FOR EMIGRANTS. 
 
 What need of all this fuss and strife, 
 
 Each warring with his brother ? 
 
 Why should we in the crowd of life 
 Keep trampling down each other ? 
 
 Is there no goal that can be won, 
 
 Without a squeeze to gain it — ■ 
 
 No other way of getting on, 
 
 But scrambling to obtain it ? 
 
 Oh ! fellow men, hear wisdom then, 
 
 In friendly warning call — 
 
 “ Your claims divide — the world is wide — • 
 
 There’s room enough for all.” 
 
 4 
 
 What if the sturdy peasant find 
 No field for honest labour ! 
 
 He need not idly stop behind. 
 
 To thrust aside his neighbour. 
 
 There is a land with sunny skies, 
 
 Where gold for toil is giving, 
 
 Where every brawny arm that tries 
 Its strength, can grasp a living. 
 
 Oh ! fellow men, remember then, 
 
 Whatever chance befall, 
 
 The world is wide, — where those abide 
 There’s room enough for all. 
 
 From poison’d air we breathe in courts 
 And typhus -tainted alleys, 
 
 Come forth, and dwell where health resorts, 
 
 In fertile hills and valleys ; 
 
7 
 
 Where every arm that clears a bough 
 Finds plenty in attendance ; 
 
 And every furrow of the plough 
 A step to independence. 
 
 Oh! hasten, then, from fever’d den 
 And lodging cramped and small ; 
 
 The world is wide,— in lands beside 
 There’s room enough for all. 
 
 In this fair region far away, 
 
 Will labour find employment; 
 
 A fair day’s work, a fair day’s pay 
 And toil will earn employment. 
 
 What need then of your daily strife, 
 
 Where each wars with his brother ? 
 
 Why need we, through the crowd of life, 
 
 Keep trampling down each other ? 
 
 From rags and crime South Afric’s clime 
 Will free the pauper’s thrall ; 
 
 Take fortune’s tide, — the world so wide 
 Flas room enough for all. 
 
 _ Emigration should be the prime subject of the day for philanthro- 
 pists, governors, manufacturers, and religionists. To be complete, it 
 should be systematic; and to be productive of present and lasting 
 benefit, it should include all classes ; the capitalist, the artizan, the 
 farm labourer, the minister, the physician, the enlightened, and the 
 unenlightened : The capitalist, to encourage the developement of 
 the resources of the new country, and the labourer to spring the 
 mine of agricultural and mineral wealth. We are in the order of 
 Providence : “ Get thee out of thy fathers’ country unto a land that 
 I will show thee.” “ Replenish the earth, and subdue it.” “ I made 
 it to be inhabited.” And upon all this land He sends the dew and 
 the rqin, watering it abundantly, and then sends forth the sun daily 
 to fructify : but man is absent. We almost spurn God’s gifts: We 
 do not go forth to our labor there until the evening : We leave the 
 grass to grow upon the mountains, and the green herb for the service 
 of men rots perennialty. 
 
 Emigration is a nationally philosophic question, politically philoso- 
 phic, religiously philosophic, economically philosophic, and produc- 
 tively philosophic. 
 
 Such a discussion, however, is too long for this occasion : but it is 
 a subject in which Her Majesty’s subjects are deeply interested : and 
 if £1000 were given by parliament for the best work upon the sub- 
 ject, thereby turning all minds to the step, an impetus and a syste- 
 matic movement might be created to fortify, to enrich, and to bless 
 the nation. We shall, from a small people, cause mighty nations to 
 arise. Just government is the only sound policy, and conferring that, 
 we shall be magnified before all the world. Thus, also, having Eng- 
 lishmen numerously peopling our possessions, danger of their being 
 attacked by foreigners will become less and less. Then may* we safely 
 withdraw our troops, and England be less taxed. Equal rights and 
 
8 
 
 self government will make every Briton a brave and loyal man. If 
 the right thing be done for Natal, though it is but a colony of yester- 
 day, no troops will be required there in two years. It has been wisely 
 said, the colonies are integral portions of the empire : Let me add, 
 that if this be practically followed up, the colonies will be sister states 
 to England ; England herself the first among equals. Borne, where 
 is thy shadow ? Assyria, Egypt, Greece, where are your shadows ? 
 They are not even splendid ruins : all are debased. How are they 
 fallen who did rule the nations ! These were all attempts, splendid 
 attempts, to possess the world ; but diversities of language and race 
 prevented. But, happy England ! thou art the hive of nations, and 
 all thy colonies are distant flower gardens, where thy own language 
 alone is spoken ; where thy people may peacefully gather the honey 
 of industry ; where freedom of thought prevails ; where every social, 
 economical, and religious privilege may be enjoyed; and if you will 
 not be too fastidious at first, where an elegant sufficiency and solid 
 independence may be attained. 
 
 The total amount of poor rates collected in England and Wales 
 since 1839, is upwards of 5650,000,000. Now had parliament at 
 that period guaranteed a loan of that amount, on the security of a 
 County Emigration Bate, each county being privileged to send 
 emigrants according to its assessment; — or had the nation promoted 
 emigration to the extent of five millions of people more than has 
 taken place during that period, we should now have had an annual 
 export trade of 5650,000,000 more than at present. Our poor rates 
 would have been diminished, the distress and famine in Ireland and 
 Scotland might have been averted, and the outlay occasioned by 
 those calamities might have been saved. 
 
 The mathematician once said — “ Give me whereon to stand, and I 
 will move the world/ 5 Patriot noblemen and members of parliament, 
 is not this enough to stand on to induce you to move your country to 
 a mighty effort? The luxury of doing good, is the first of enjoy- 
 ments. If some of our young talented and noble aristocracy would 
 but lead the way by emigrating on the plan here proposed, or any 
 better, their tenants would say to them, “ Whither thou goest I will 
 go, where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, 
 and thy God my God; where thou diest I will die, and there will I be 
 buried; 55 they would taste of a perennial spring of joy. They would 
 replant concord in the land of their adoption; the old attachment of 
 the people to noble leaders would be revived, and the British 
 monarchy would be perpetuated over that one third of the globe 
 which is England 5 s inheritance. 
 
 The first aim of England should not be to get the greatest value 
 out of her colonies. Direct and indirect taxation should both be 
 eschewed. The high aim should be to attain the position of a 
 superintending, benignant providence; blessing her colonies, by 
 bestowing upon them all her cherished institutions, by introducing 
 her science, her arts, and her civilization, and by sending forth her 
 ministers £o proclaim “ Glory to God in the highest,— on earth, peace, 
 — good will towards men. 55 
 
9 
 
 In a few years it will be the regret of many who aspire to honor- 
 able positions amongst mankind, that they did not embark their 
 intelligence and their energies in the colonies. England cannot 
 confer due honor upon all her sons, they have not field within her 
 narrow limits for the exercise of their mental and physical powers. 
 The British race is already dominent on the earth; the sea is their 
 high road. Our influence is felt in every land, and our will to occupy 
 is only exceeded by our power to do so. The pillage of Galleons is 
 gone; a more noble ambition is afloat to confirm and enlarge our 
 territory. The redemption of land from the sea, or forcing the 
 powers of the earth, can never meet our wants. Our territory can 
 only be made commensurate with our wants, by filling up our 
 southern continents, and by possessing the islands of the sea. The 
 smallest of these will be jewels in the British crown, and the field of 
 honourable competition in them is open to our people. Borneo, in a 
 few years, might be made to contain millions of Chinese as British 
 subjects, adding immensely to our wealth and power. Limitless as the 
 ocean, may be our dominion. Gold is of universal estimation, and 
 British justice, energy, and intelligence, stamped by religion, will 
 cause our sway to extend from sea to sea, from the river to the 
 world’s end, until Christ come, when all nations shall do Him service. 
 
 Colonization, as a moral and economical science, offers the greatest 
 field for the first statesman of the day. The subject can be barely 
 alluded to in this publication. But there is land enough in our 
 colonies to give every man, woman, and child of British birth, 1,000. 
 acres of good land. It is to be • regretted that nothing efficient is 
 done. No nation has so many paupers, and yet no nation has so 
 many acres. Officials are not without feeling, but they do not con- 
 template the scope there is for their talent and energy, and they 
 consequently deny themselves the greatest of all pleasure, that of 
 benefitting individuals and aggrandizing the nation. Let us begin 
 now, without reflecting- on the past. Let the honest pride of public 
 virtue, and the exquisite delight of beholding the general happiness 
 increased by their means, inspire public men with greater activity. 
 Let colonial lands be rendered cheap to the poor ; let means be devised 
 for placing them there. Let government not deny respectability to 
 the colonies. Confer self government; bestow titles of honour, 
 create an order of merit, and raise colonists, at the same time, to the 
 highest positions. Let the offices of governor, &c. be bestowed for 
 talent and ingenuity, not for party., or with the spirit of patronage. 
 Let the governor be beloved as the representative of Her Majesty, 
 and let him grant to the colonists every privilege which Her Majesty 
 bestows upon her subjects at home. Let all royalties and litigation 
 with the crown cease. The crown bears no losses sustained by 
 landowners; let not the crown claim any of the labours of its emi- 
 grating people. This is the remnant of an unjust law, which should 
 be expunged from the statute books of all the colonies. Send 
 industry, morality, intelligence, and religion to the colonies; but as 
 sin is a shame to any people, let not England be so shameful as to 
 
10 
 
 ( 
 
 commit the greater sin of inoculating a pure colony with the vices,, 
 the crimes, and the horrors of conviction. If she does it, she will 
 entail upon herself an immense expenditure without result; and in 
 the end she will be beaten, and bring disgrace upon herself. Loyal 
 people should not be worried either to expatriate themselves or to 
 rebel. The introduction of sin is a political crime, and constitutional 
 resistance to it is patriotism and godliness. 
 
 Island of St. Helena, 20 th August , 1849. — Since the above was 
 written, I find, by the annual report of the poor law commissioners, 
 that the rates collected in England and Wales, in 1848, amounted to 
 566,180,765! upwards of six millions pounds sterling! and that this 
 relief was given to 1,876,541 people! which gives £3 5s. l(Rd. to 
 each ! Thus nearly a twelfth part of the population are paupers ! 
 
 Scotland, in 1848, paid £544,334. The number of people partak- 
 ing of that sum was 227,647! at the rate of £2 7s. 9U1. each! Pro- 
 portion of the population receiving relief, nearly one-nintli l 
 
 Unhappy Ireland paid £1,216,679! (exclusive of the parliamentary 
 grants.) 1,457,194 people received relief, at the rate of 16s. 8|d. 
 each ! Thus the proportion of people to the whole population receiv- 
 ing relief, amounted actually to one-sixth! 
 
 And taking the whole complex of the united kingdom, there are 
 now 3,561,382! (three and a-half millions of people!) receiving poor 
 law relief! or nearly one-eighth of the whole population of the 
 kingdom! 
 
 The historian, Gibbon, in the Decline and Fall of the Roman 
 Empire, observes — That the ablest politicians have limited the number 
 of troops that any nation can bear without being soon ruined, to one 
 hundredth part of the population. The expence of supporting a body 
 of men beyond that proportion, although an army is necessary for 
 protection, would ruin the finances of any nation. Let us apply 
 this: — the army of Great Britain amounts only to one man in every 
 285. This, therefore, according to the best politicians, will not ruin 
 us; but an army of paupers, 3,561,382 strong, at an expense of 
 £8,182,293! will ruin the kingdom, if something effectual is not 
 soon accomplished. The goodness of God our Saviour in withholding 
 famine and disease from us, we can never be sufficiently thankful for. 
 If they were added to our troubles, it would be as overwhelming to 
 England, or more so, than the late famine in Ireland. A rate in aid 
 bill, would then be required for the whole kingdom; that is to say, 
 the nation would be called on to keep people upon their landed pro- 
 perty, or to buy the land from them at a song, and send the occupiers 
 either to the colonies or to the Union! Let politicians beware, or it 
 will come. Without emigration being extensively directed to our 
 colonies, some of our recent measures are of questionable policy; but 
 if undertaken, our trade would offer more advantages than any nation 
 could reciprocate, and then we might dictate instead of being dictated 
 to. It is very unwise to disparage the colonies and the colonial 
 trade, to call the first an incubus, and the last unprofitable. With 
 much more truth might it be said that England has been an incubus 
 
 L 
 
to the Cape of G-ood Hope. Through misgovernment, England has 
 lost millions of the property of the colonists, and no compensation 
 has yet been given for it. But we will put this aside for the present. 
 
 The colonial trade is also disparaged and regarded as nothing. 
 But people who do so should not look at the number, or the vast 
 extent of our lands in the colonies, which doubles that of all Europe; 
 but look to the extent of the trade created by a very limited number 
 of colonists. If emigration had been conducted as it becomes 
 England to conduct it, we might have done something towards 
 making some of our colonies as populous as the continent of Europe. 
 Were that the case, and we had a hundred and eighty millions of 
 people of British origin in our colonies, I ween our trade with them 
 would be something far more considerable than we now have with 
 foreign Europe. In Natal, we intend to consume from £7 10s. to 
 '£10 worth of British manufactures per man. Natal will hold four or 
 five millions of people. Now when the Natalians number four mil- 
 lions of people, they will do more trade with England than all Europe 
 together, they will consume £80,000,000 of British manufactures; 
 whereas our foreign trade only amounts to twenty-six millions. 
 But did they consume at the rate of Capesters, Australians, or Na- 
 talians, even now there would be a demand for £1,830,000,000 of 
 British manufactures! England and her politicians should look 
 forward to this. 
 
 I hear the reply, “first catch your hare Truly: and perhaps I 
 should hardly be justified in offering my sentiments to the public, if I 
 did nothing towards accomplishing this desirable result. An essay 
 on such a subject, unless some practical plan is offered for adoption, 
 is almost a nuisance. Where evils are openly displayed, some remedy 
 should be proposed. Well, I offer my own plan at once, than which 
 no better has been laid before the public, to a limited extent, because 
 the land is offered cheap, and because prospectively it promotes emi- 
 gration. Besides which there are the following plans for general 
 adoption, which I beg respectfully to suggest to Government, to the 
 Emigration Commissioners and the Poor Law Commissioners. Let 
 these be tried, one or both (for they will work simultaneously,) and 
 we may conquer the evils of poverty, check this drain upon the 
 general resources, and give to the poor, contentment and plenty in 
 our colonies. 
 
 Plan A. 
 
 Grant a loan of a million sterling to Natal, on security 
 of the colonial revenues. It can, under government 
 guarantee, be negociated at 3^ or 4 per cent. At £10 
 per head it will introduce 100,000 people. 
 
 1st. — 100,0000 people consuming £10 worth of goods, 
 
 British and foreign, at an average of 7\ per cent, 
 customs duty, will bring a revenue of £75,000 
 
 2ndly. — Deduct the interest payable on the loan . . 40,000 
 
 Annual profit to the Natal government . £35,000 
 
 This shows that the interest could be safely guaranteed. 
 
12 
 
 Now 3rdly. — For the principal. The arrival of such a 
 number of settlers would cause at least two millions 
 of acres to be sold. This at 4s. (it should be 2s.) per 
 acre, would amount to ..... 
 
 In another two years, through the prosperity of the 
 colony, private emigration, and natural increase, at 
 least three millions of acres more would be sold, at 
 4s. (should be 2s.) that amounts to . 
 
 Thus the whole loan would be repaid . 
 
 £400,000 
 
 600,000 
 
 £ 1 , 000,000 
 
 Thus also the whole Cape Colony would be rendered impregnable 
 against Caffers, and the home government might be saved the expense 
 of supporting five hundred soldiers in Natal. Give the emigrants, 
 and then withdraw the troops; but don't withdraw the troops, ruin 
 all the colonists, and only talk about emigration. This will never do 
 for England's interests or England's honor. 
 
 £10 
 
 10 
 
 £20 
 
 Plan B. 
 
 Pass an Act of Parliament, and allow arrangements for emigration 
 to be made between poor law guardians and rate-payers. Take an 
 instance, and see the working of the plan. 
 
 A. B. is a farmer and rate-payer of £20 a-year. He sees no 
 diminution of poverty; on the contrary, an increase; he sees 
 through that poverty, a diminution of his own means of 
 livelihood. He goes to the poor law guardians of his parish, 
 offers to take C. H. out of the union, and to send him to 
 Natal, where he wishes to go; tbe passage is 
 Then A. B. nominates another parishoner, E. E., a labouring 
 man, or woman, (but not a relative,) who does not receive 
 poor law relief, and pays his or her passage 
 When certified that they have embarked, let the poor lawl 
 guardians give a receipt for A. B.'s poor rates . . . / 
 
 The operation of this is not simply to enable one person receiving 
 relief to emigrate, but inasmuch as many take the assistance of the 
 poor law because they have no work. G. H., who is in the union, 
 comes out of the union, and gets the work which E. F. used to get 
 from A. B. Thus two men are taken out of the union. Details 
 cannot here be entered into, but the thing can be done extensively 
 and advantageously, for rate-payers might coalesce, and send one, ten, 
 or a hundred emigrants together. If a man's rates amounted only 
 to £2 per annum, and he paid £20 on this plan, his property could 
 be exempted for ten years. 
 
 I avail myself of this opportunity to suggest the removal of an exist- 
 ing impediment to emigration. An engagement entered into in Eng- 
 land by a labourer, to serve a capitalist who is emigating, is not binding- 
 in the colony; so that after he has landed, and his passage been paid, 
 he may decline to serve. People are not inclined to promote 
 emigration, having such a fragile tie upon the labourer. They there- 
 fore rarely take servants with them. To remedy this evil, pass a 
 
13 
 
 short act to allow labourers to engage themselves here to serve in the 
 colony, for two or three years. I do not ask for more, though 
 captured negroes are, I believe, bound for seven years. When 
 capitalists emigrate, they will then feel a confidence that their opera- 
 tions will not be thwarted. The present law renders a benevolent 
 man’s efforts to benefit his poorer neighbour null and void; it exposes 
 him to a heavy loss and disappointment, because his dependence upon 
 the labourer, either in tillage, herding, or other calling, has prevented 
 his getting other hands, and his crop, or his stock, have been injured 
 or lost. 
 
 The subject confined even to one colony opens more and more, but 
 I have already far surpassed the bounds I had placed to this part of 
 my work. I will therefore merely say, that if it was a noble act on 
 the part of parliament to pay <£20,000,000 sterling to emancipate 
 the slaves in all our colonies, such a grant or such a loan to emanci- 
 pate our industrious poverty-stricken white labourers, who wish to 
 emigrate, would be much more noble and quite as politic. Humanity 
 calls for this, or for something quite as equivalent. Landowners and 
 rate-payers all call for some relief; and if England acts boldly and 
 promptly, she will save money and make money. Her colonies, at 
 the same time, being the greatest employers of her manufacturing 
 population at home, and great producers of the raw materials, both of 
 cotton and sheep’ s-wool, &c.; and in war they will pour forth legions 
 of auxiliaries, to protect the British dominions in her own time of need. 
 There is now an Indian navy, and in time every colony will not only 
 be able to protect its own land, but its own seas. England has but 
 just entered upon her duties, let her pursue them with energy and 
 wisdom, and her destiny is, increased power of greatness through the 
 prosperity of her colonies. 
 
 ON CRIME. 
 
 The connexion between poverty and crime is so intimate, that I must 
 be allowed the reader’s attention a little longer. The following 
 extracts, from the published criminal returns, will be enough painfully 
 to excite attention to the fearful condition of the country in this respect. 
 The total number of offenders in England and Wales, in 1848, was 
 30,349; convictions, 22,900; acquitted on trial, 7,423. In the 
 analysis of the above returns, there is an average increase of the 
 following crimes against the person, — murder, maiming, unnatural 
 offences, rape, and assaults, of 10 per cent. 
 
14 
 
 Against property, such as burglary, house and shop-breaking, rob- 
 bery, an increase of 25 per cent. 
 
 Against property , without violence , such as sheep-stealing, larceny, 
 &c., 1 per cent. 
 
 Forgery, and offences against the currency, — an increase of 22 per 
 cent, on forgery, and 36 per cent, for uttering counterfeit coin. 
 Miscellaneous offences,— against game laws, &c., and treasonable and 
 seditious offences, 109 per cent. 
 
 Number transported from England and Wales, in 1848, 3,251 
 
 Number guilty of transportable offences . . . 20,700 
 
 And had the law not been recently altered, 1,160 of those transported 
 in 1848, would have been sentenced to death. 
 
 Offenders under the age of 15, are not included in these returns, 
 being now taken before justices. Unfortunately, this class of juve- 
 nile offenders is greatly on the increase. 
 
 Other offences carried before magistrates, and cases of drunkenness, 
 cannot be given, not being as yet made up. 
 
 A contemplation of these figures is enough to excite the concern of 
 any person having the welfare of his country at heart; but I will 
 make also a few extracts from the report of D. O’Brien, Esq. In- 
 spector of Prisons of the Midland and Eastern districts. “Before 
 Christianity can obtain a victory over the heart of a criminal, he 
 must understand what the minister says. In the prisons to which 
 I allude, an apathy and sterility are found, and must be found so 
 long as the preacher is unaccompanied by the teacher.” Again, “ I 
 have already, and with much reluctance, acknowledged my belief that 
 but little reformation is to be effected in prison.” “ As yet, I have 
 lighted upon no case of reformation where the chaplain’s duties have 
 been confined to the routine of Church service, unattended by 
 attempts to make the prisoner f read, mark, learn, and inwardly 
 digest,’ the rudiments of all good.” If there were less apathy and 
 sterility among all chaplains in doors and out, there would be less 
 crime in the people. Again, where there is not a separate system, 
 “Women are discharged from prison morally worse than when they 
 were committed, — the fact is undeniable, — it cannot be otherwise.” 
 Then speaking of the mixture of all degrees of crime together, he 
 says, — “ The chaplain will pray, preach, and teach, and the Bible will 
 be read, and religious books will be perused, and good precepts will 
 be inculcated, — and all in vain, so long as those living essences of cor- 
 ruption are brought into close proximity with the less tainted inmates 
 of the female wards.” Female debtors are imprisoned and celled 
 with “ prostitutes and thieves,” and then, “ they are condemned to 
 hear the foul language of the stews, the unchecked blasphemy and 
 ribaldry of the lowest prostitutes, and the outpourings of thieves.” 
 Such for instance is the goal of Coventry, and there are similar. 
 The crimes in prison too, one against another, and with one another, 
 can scarcely be believed, and are not repeatable. 
 
 Insufficiency of goal room prevails in every district. There is con- 
 tinual evidence in these reports, that people steal on purpose to get 
 
15 
 
 subsistence in gaols. Could they get it in the colonies, they would 
 not steal at all. People steal children and maim them, to excite 
 commisseration. We hear not of burking, but it is to be feared that 
 it still exists. 
 
 “ The situation and feelings of the vagrant class, who, in the North 
 Riding, at least constitute the bulk of the criminal population, seem 
 to set at nought all attempts at improvement. They are undeterred 
 by the police officer, they are not reclaimed by the discipline of the 
 gaol, they are uninfluenced by any advice or instruction; and when 
 liberated, they resume their former habits, their crimes and their 
 associates. The goal is no longer regarded with aversion, but as a 
 place of refuge for the sick, the houseless, and the destitute/’ 
 “ Clean apartments and sufficiency of wholesome food, contrast agree- 
 ably with what are called f the late bad times/ and they settle down 
 with remarkable complacency. The deprivation of liberty is a fitful 
 annoyance at the first, but congenial companionship rapidly reconciles 
 them to their periodical home; while beginners, who are really bowed 
 down with the sense of their disgrace, are soon laughed out of their 
 novitiate, and become shameless and hardended as the rest.” 
 
 People steal to be committed, in order to get a suit of clothes; go 
 out, dispose of those clothes, and return again and again. 
 
 “ The sums heretofore expended on prison buildings have in some 
 cases been enormous. The cost is seldom less than £100 to £150 per 
 prisoner; a sum sufficient for building two or three neat cottages, 
 each able to contain a whole family, and in some instances, it has 
 been much more. 
 
 The smallest of these sums would have paid for ten passengers to 
 Natal. 
 
 “ A portion of the county prison of York, capable of accommodat- 
 ing only one hundred and sixty prisoners, cost £200,000, which is 
 more than £1,200 per prisoner; enough, if it had been desired, to 
 build for each prisoner, a separate mansion, with stable and coach- 
 house.” 
 
 Seeing the enormous expense of goals, Mr. Inspector Hill thinks 
 that building prisons should be postponed; while other inspectors, 
 with much satisfaction, will see them increased. 
 
 “ To send a child of seven or eight years old to any ordinary 
 prison, a fortress, with grated doors and barred windows, guarded at 
 all points, and surrounded by high walls, would seem, when stated in 
 plain terms, to be an act both of folly and cruelty. And when not 
 only the public money is wasted, and the child treated without regard 
 to the feelings of infancy, but, owing to the bad state of the prison, 
 the little thing is placed in a position in which he is in danger of 
 being corrupted for life, the picture, in all its features, becomes 
 painful and revolting.” 
 
 The conduct of heinous offenders is barely touched upon; that 
 picture would be revolting indeed, and yet many of these men might, 
 under a paternal goverment, have been first-rate members of society. 
 They are all men of vast energy, but their course has been hampered, 
 
16 
 
 they have had no field for their talents, or it has been denied them. 
 
 There are thousands craving for emigration now, and it is denied to 
 them. Many will in consequence become convicts, not that they * 
 
 like it, but they are driven to it. Good treatment makes us all 
 better men. The following lines were written by a prisoner: — 
 
 Caged in a prison cell, how sad, yet true, 
 
 Does the lone heart bring former scenes to view, 
 
 Till the rack’d mind, with bitter frenzy driven, 
 
 Maligns the just decrees of man and heaven. 
 
 The grated bars, the iron-studded door, 
 
 The cold bare walls, and chilly pavement floor, 
 
 The hammock, table, stool, and pious book, 
 
 The jailor’s stealthy tread and jealous look, 
 
 Force back the maddened thoughts to other days, 
 
 When joyous youth was crowned with hopeful bays ; 
 
 ’Ere rank luxuriant folly reigned supreme, 
 
 As if this life was nothing but a dream, — 
 
 Or the dire cup had seared the unblighted heart, 
 
 And caused all holy feelings to depart. 
 
 My father’s home, my mother’s cheerful smile, 
 
 Where sat affection free from selfish guile ; 
 
 Each pleasant hour so innocently gay, 
 
 Passed like a mellow summer’s eve away. 
 
 N o baneful passions fired my tranquil mind, 
 
 No wild unruly thoughts ranged unconfined ; 
 
 But all was fair and gladsome as the grove, 
 
 Where warbling songsters live in artless love. 
 
 How changed my lot ! no sister, mother, sire, 
 
 Now fondly sit around the wintry fire ; 
 
 No household song beguiles the lengthened night; 
 
 No homely jests create a fond delight; 
 
 No Sabbath morning sees us now engage 
 In wrapt attention on the holy page, 
 
 Or hears the swelling notes of praise and prayer 
 Borne on the breeze, and floating on the air. 
 
 Oh ! could my parents’ shades but bend on earth 
 They’d mourn like me the morning of my birth ; 
 
 Cursed be the hour when first I turned astray 
 From keeping sacred God’s own hallowed day; 
 
 When first I learned to sip the poisoned bowl, 
 
 That kills the body and corrupts the soul. 
 
 ’Twas then my godly lessons, one by one, 
 
 Fled from my giddy heart, till all were gone, 
 
 And left behind a waste and dreary wild, 
 
 A conscience hardened and a soul defiled, 
 
 Oh ! when I think on what I’ve been, and see 
 My present state, and think what I may be, 
 
 Despair and horror burn and boil within, 
 
 For years of folly and continued sin, 
 
 Until my brain seems bursting with the dread, / 
 
 Of heaven’s just judgments falling on my head. > 
 
 Almighty father, God of life and death ! 
 
 Give, oh ! give me a true and living faith ; 
 
17 
 
 Bestow thy quickening spirit, and impart, 
 
 Thy saving grace to tranquillize my heart ; 
 
 That I may better live, for time to come, 
 
 And rear my spirit for thy heavenly home. 
 
 But we must not be sentimentally pitiful to the guilty, and unjust 
 to the honest and striving. If that course be adopted, the righteous 
 would be swallowed up quick. Even now, the increase of crime 
 greatly exceeds the increase of population. “ In 1810, according to 
 Mr. Pearson, there were only 5,146 commitments:” now they are 
 30,349. Population during that period had increased but 60 per cent. ; 
 whilst the commitments for crime had increased 420 per cent. ! 
 
 SCOTLAND. 
 
 Convictions in 1848,-3689. Acquitted on Trial, — 1196. 
 
 Prisons are full ; so that the General Board of Directors of Prisons 
 report to Sir Geo. Grey, “ that they should view with much satisfac- 
 tion an addition to the prison accommodation of Scotland.” 
 
 The average daily number of prisoners in Scotland in 1840, was 
 1041 ; in 1848, it was 2969; an increase of 146 per cent. 
 
 The assessment on counties for prisons in Scotland, in 1847, was 
 <£47,817 ; in 1848, £56,596. The cost of the gaoling system in 
 Scotland is £19. 5s. 7d. per head per annum, exclusive of constabu- 
 lary, police, convictions, prisons, repairs, &c. Building and repairing 
 prisons, alone amounted to £17,104. 
 
 The Inspectors of Scotch prisons report that committals have in- 
 creased from 13,682 in 1846, to 17,402 in 1848. “ There was no 
 
 provision to meet the excess.” “ The evil has been further aggravated 
 by the additional number sentenced to long imprisonments, for which 
 there was no room in the general prison.” “ Aberdeen and Dingwall 
 are the only two important places that have had spare cells.” “ The 
 separate system could not be carried out in Edinburgh and Glasgow, 
 from being so overcrowded ; so that safe custody and good order was 
 all that could be attempted. While such has been the condition of 
 the prisons, it is useless making observations on the probable results 
 of imprisonments, which could do little or no good.” “ The loss of 
 parents is a fruitful cause of crime in Scotland, as elsewhere.” “It 
 is chiefly from this unfortunate class that our prisons continue to be 
 fed and multiplied, while sound policy, as well as justice and human- 
 ity, point out that they ought to be otherwise provided for.” True, 
 and Mr. Kincaid is right again, when he says, “ If we would empty 
 our prisons, I am satisfied that the all-important act of reformation 
 must be commenced and worked out of doors, in the haunts of poverty 
 and vice ; and, above all, by snatching neglected children from the 
 inevitable ruin that awaits them. I am of opinion that little good 
 can be effected in prison, unless under deterring systems, such as 
 may not be calculated to damage the energies of the prisoner, but at 
 the same time to make him feel that an honest way of life is prefer- 
 able to a prison abode.” 
 
 c 
 
18 
 
 IRELAND. 
 
 Total committals in Ireland in 1848, 100,541; in 184/, 66,4.26. 
 Increase, 34,105. 
 
 Total convictions in 1848, 18,206. Acquitted on trial, 20,316. 
 
 Number of cases before magistrates and petty sessions in 1848, 
 49,717; in 1847, 25,810. Increase, 23,907 : being an increase of 93 
 per cent. 
 
 Number of persons committed for drunkenness, 12,302. 
 
 Of criminals, there is an increase in 1848, of 7313, or 23^ per cent. 
 
 The Report of the Inspector describes the state of affairs as fol- 
 lows : “ A state of social prostration but faintly shewn, even by crimi- 
 nal statistics, in which the magnitude of the offence keeps pace with 
 the increase of offenders.” “This is fearfully aggravated by the 
 insufficiency of existing accommodation in the gaols of Ireland, (in 
 which 1190 deaths took place last year,) wholly inadequate, even in 
 ordinary years, to the wants of the respective counties, being crowded 
 to excess by all classes and descriptions of offenders. The establish- 
 ment of a reformatory system of separation or industrial training, 
 appears to be physically and morally impracticable.” 
 
 How fearfully this* picture and these figures would have been 
 aggravated, if juries were not overwhelmed with fear, if the assassin 
 were not dreaded, and if witnesses dared to give their evidence ! 
 
 “ Cattle stealing has reached such a height, and is committed with 
 such apparent impunity as to become a question of vital importance, 
 threatening almost the very existence of that branch of the agricul- 
 tural interest. The constabulary returns shew that offences of this 
 description have averaged 1200 per month !” 
 
 Offences against the person, with violence, exhibit an increase of 
 5966, being 3 Li per cent, upon the previous year. 
 
 Offences against property, with violence, 2561, an increase of 15 
 per cent. 
 
 Offences against property, without violence, 19,547, an increase of 
 2063, or 12 per cent. 
 
 Malicious offences against property, have increased from 321 to 
 926, or 188 per cent. 
 
 Forgeries, and offences against the currency, an increase of 10 per 
 cent. 
 
 Miscellaneous offences shew an increase of 44| per cent. 
 
 Making a gross increase on the year 1847 — 48, of 7313, or 23 per 
 cent. 
 
 Murders have increased 66| per cent. ; manslaughter, 4 per cent. ; 
 “ shooting at,” 29 per cent. ; assaults, 33| per cent. ; assaults against 
 police, 147 per cent. ; “ taking and holding forcible possession,” 93f 
 per cent. ; arson, 191 per cent. ; killing cattle, 400 per cent. ; riot, 
 22 per cent. ; and rescue, 84 per cent. 
 
19 
 
 Tlie Inspectors General; of Irisli prisons say of their own proceed- 
 ings, “ All these occupations, though engrossing much time, sink into 
 insignificance, when compared with the depressing incidents of our 
 periodical inspections, which bring us into personal contact with every 
 species of human misery, and make us despairingly cognizant of every 
 form of social offence.” 
 
 The total expense of gaols in Ireland is £129,135. The total cost 
 of keeping a man in prison there, is £13 4s. 4d. ; to which is to be 
 added, the expense of constabulary, police, expense of convictions, 
 cost of prisons, &c. 
 
 Total of persons confined in gaol, last year, in Ireland, including 
 debtors, was 97,595 ! Deaths, 1190 ! 
 
 The cost of diet, in some cases, is 44d. per day, 2s. lOd. a week, 
 £8 11s. Id. a vear. 
 
 Remembering all these criminal figures, (yes, criminal, because 
 they might be greatly reduced,) well might a Minister of the 
 present cabinet say, “ But what are we to do with the convicts 
 in case of a Chartist insurrection?” And yet it is not this go- 
 vernment that is specially at fault, denying to the starving peo- 
 ple a morsel of land to live upon in our colonies. We have 
 done so always and everywhere. An improvement has been made in 
 Natal emigration, but still sufficient encouragement is not bestowed 
 on those who would people and Christianize it. No obstruction 
 should be interposed, particularly when the colony is running into 
 debt at head quarters. The Customs’ revenue should be the resource 
 of the colony ; but that is derived solely from population. In this 
 matter, the poor are not thought of sufficiently, — they are made poor- 
 er, — they have now no means to buy, and yet we fix high prices on 
 colonial land. It should be given away to occupants, as it used to be 
 in the old Roman colonies. We must again learn a lesson from the 
 past, and follow the practice of our ancestors. Pepper-corn rents and 
 yeomanry service is all that should be required. Small grants in 
 good colonies will accomplish these great points, — relief of the poor 
 themselves, — relief of the rich and middle classes, through a reduc- 
 tion of poor rates and county rates ; — a diminution of crimes caused 
 by necessity ; — thriving colonies to employ our manufacturers, and 
 rich colonies to pay their own expenses without subjecting England 
 to pay for their civil and military government. All this may be done 
 without a tax, nay, it will relieve both public taxes, county rates, and 
 poor rates. There is not a man in the country that will not derive 
 benefit. Our own shipping might be perpetually employed, and the 
 population, instead of being a burthen here, be far greater promoters 
 of England’s wealth and grandeur, than had they remained at home, 
 incarcerated in gaols and poor-law unions. Well may it be asked, 
 what are we to do with the convicts in case of a Chartist insurrection ? 
 Prevent them being convicts. — Give land. Upon principles estab- 
 lished, all are entitled to a sustenance. Shall it be demanded, as in 
 
20 
 
 France, in cash, — or will you give them the means of existence, by 
 allowing them to possess land in your colonies ? There is no refuge 
 from this difficulty and the query of the Cabinet Minister, but this. 
 The government of Natal is now in debt some £8000 or £10,000, be- 
 sides the expense of supporting about 600 soldiers. This is nearly an 
 entire waste. Not that the soldiers are not deserving of it; but it 
 would be better if they were pure citizens, and had an interest in the 
 soil. Grant every European soldier his discharge, and give him 100 
 acres of good land, and let them muster with the colonists for exer- 
 cise, once a month. This will be a far better rampart than pure 
 soldiery. In two years, England might save about £40,000 per annum 
 in Natal, and the colony be better protected. To resist emigration is 
 to resist diminution of "the public burthens, to favor the increase of 
 poverty, and to multiply the number of convicts. Moreover, unless 
 the English Government keep pace with the advantages proposed to 
 be granted by the United States, all the British colonies will be ruined 
 far want of labor. We ought to anticipate the intended liberality. 
 
 Sum total of convictions for serious offences, in 1848, in England, 
 30,349; in Scotland, 4,909; in Ireland, 38,522. Total Guerella 
 banditti against the laws of society, 73,770. 
 
 Double this number are loose on society; together a more formidable 
 fact than if they were banded in force against the government. 
 
 What then, it is enquired, can be done with the convicts ? Renew 
 and improve the assignment system in the old penal colonies; or, 
 better, form a new colony for the express purpose. True, there are 
 evils in the assignment system, — but where all is evil, we must be 
 content, and meet it as best we can. The assignment system has its 
 advantages also. But to let all loose upon colonial society, is pre- 
 posterous, not to say unjust and tyrannical. How would the propo- 
 sition be received in Scotland, to harbour all the convicts of England 
 and Ireland? The colonists must not be worse treated than Scot- 
 land. The Cape, for instance, has her own convicts, as every other 
 country. We cannot send them to England, we are taxed to keep 
 them in order, and England must bear her own burthen, or cure the 
 morals of her people. New South Wales and Van Diemaffis Land 
 have not been able to bear the burthen of the few convicts sent there. 
 In short, England must adopt emigration, or crime will increase, and 
 then property will depreciate. This multiple of 73,770 convicts kept 
 in England, with increasing poverty, and consequent increasing crime, 
 will have the effect of reducing properties now worth £20,000, down 
 to £3000. This has been done in Van Diemaffis Land, as I have 
 learnt from a solicitor lately established there, and who is now seek- 
 ing a home in the Cape or Natal. Nearer still, it has been done in 
 Ireland, and is commencing in England. 
 
 Paupers in the United Kingdom are now, one in. nine out of the 
 whole population ; and leaving out infants and children who have not 
 yet been taught to be honest or dishonest by society, the number of 
 criminals guilty of serious offences probably amounts to one in the 
 hundred. 
 
21 
 
 There are, however, several remedies for the present evils of Eng- 
 lish Society. If Australia and Van Diem aids Land will not receive 
 convicts, unaccompanied with extensive free emigration, a new colony 
 must be formed for them. Emigration loans must be granted to the 
 colonies, secured on the colonial revenue, and guaranteed by England. 
 Poor rates should be made more available for emigration purposes ; 
 small grants of land should be given to settlers ; to soldiers also, who 
 should be allowed their discharge. Juvenile offenders require differ- 
 ent treatment ; and orphans, as the children of the state, should be 
 snatched from perdition immediately; they should be educated by 
 the state, and, according to their ages, transferred to a more mature 
 establishment, where they should be taught farming and useful trades, 
 and then sent forth to our colonies. Holland, when she founded 
 the Cape Colony, sent out one thousand orphans above fifteen years 
 of age. In the colonies, government might have model self-paying 
 farms ; some benevolent men, supervised by government, might con- 
 duct them, and divide all the profits amongst the orphans, when they 
 left the establishment, which might be fixed at not later that fifteen, 
 sixteen, or seventeen years of age. Many widows might be provided 
 for in such establishments, happy to be so employed. We should thus 
 be fathers to the fatherless, and make the widow’s heart leap for joy. 
 
 Truly there is much to be done, but not too much for the energe- 
 tic British nation. What has been done, has been done by our 
 ancestors ; what remains, is for us to do ; and that is only just enough 
 to prevent the extinction of our benevolence and public spirit. 
 
 The foregoing statements of Crime, are enough to appal the contem- 
 plative ; but there are others, perhaps, passing them in feeling con- 
 sideration for the poor, who require to be guided to conclusions by 
 superior ratiocination and experience. I therefore shorten my own ob- 
 servations to give fresh currency to a recent article in the u Times.” 
 
 "We yesterday published in a very short compass some grave par- 
 ticulars of the unfortunate county of Dorset. It is not simply the old 
 story of wages inadequate for life, hovels unfit for habitation, and 
 misery and sin alternately claiming our pity and our disgust. What 
 compels our attention just now, is a sudden, rapid, and we fear a 
 forced, aggravation of these evils. Measured by the infallible test of 
 crime, Dorsetshire is fast sinking into a slough of wretchedness which 
 threatens the peace and morality of the kingdom at large. The total 
 number of convictions, which in 1846 was 796, and in the following- 
 year 821, mounted up in the year 1848 to 950, and up to the special 
 general session, last Tuesday, for less than eleven months of the 
 present year, to the astounding number of 1,193, being at the rate of 
 1,300 for the whole year. Unless something is done to stop this flood 
 of crime, or the tide haply turns of itself, the county will have more 
 than doubled its convictions within four years. Nor is it possible for 
 us to take refuge in the thought that the increase is in petty offences. 
 In no respect is it a light thing for a poor creature to be sent to gaol, 
 whatever the offence. He has broken the laws of his country, and 
 forfeited his character. His name and his morals are alike tainted 
 
22 
 
 with the gaol. He is degraded and corrupted. If his spirit be not 
 crushed^ it is exasperated into perpetual hostility to wealth and 
 power. So far from being a warning, the common class of convicted 
 offenders only familiarize the working classes with crime and its 
 penalties. Every such person is one more added to the criminal class, 
 which assumes a bold front when it is numerically strong. It is, then, 
 no light affair that a rural county, the abode of an ancient and re- 
 spectable aristocracy, somewhat removed from the popular influences 
 of the age, with a population of 175,043 by the last census, should 
 produce in four years near 3,000 convictions, being at the rate of 
 one conviction, in that period, for every 60 persons, or every 12 
 households. 
 
 “ For our own part, we know not whether the spectacle of thousands 
 driven to crime by distress, and falling into evil courses, not from 
 bad to worse but from innocence to the first disobedience, is not the 
 more painful downfall of the two. This regular progress of multi- 
 tudes from the cottage to the union ivorkhouse, and from the work- 
 house to the gaol, is a fearful and suspicious thing. It bears the 
 marks of systematic tyranny, bringing all our social institutions to 
 bear against the miserable peasant. Helpless and ignorant above all 
 men as the British agricultural labourer undoubtedly is — save only in 
 his work set before him — he has not the wit to better himself, even 
 if he had the opportunity. When his wages are reduced below the 
 scale of life’s support, he is forced into the workhouse. As his resi- 
 dence there is still more onerous to his former employers than em- 
 ployment at ever so good wages, they take care to thrust him out as 
 they thrust him in. They will not, however, thrust him back into his 
 parish, where he will again come upon them for employment, but into 
 the gaol, where the county, and not the parish, will be burdened with 
 his maintenance. With this cheap but terrible threat, the guardians 
 can either make the crowds under their charge submit to otherwise 
 intolerable misery, or punish them, not only without cost, but even 
 with positive gain. But there is hardly in all the earth a sadder sight 
 than the multitudes of from 300 to 1,000 shut up in the workhouses. 
 Broken hearts and fortunes, high spirits still unftamed, minds in ruin 
 and decay, good natures corrupted into evil, cheerful souls turned 
 to bitterness, youth just beginning to struggle with the ivorld, and 
 vast masses of childhood, are there subjected, not to the educated, 
 the gentle, a?id the good, but the rude, the rough, the coarse, the 
 ignorant, and narrow-minded. The qualifications for the governor of 
 a workhouse are those we expect in a gaoler, or a policeman, or the 
 keeper of wild beasts. Human nature, be it ever so fallen, is yet 
 too fine a thing to be bullied into goodness. None can reclaim it 
 but the good and noble. We want a race of heroes and apostles for 
 the reformation of our paupers, and their conversion into men. With 
 our workhouse staff, such as it is, low, vulgar, and brutal, and with 
 the evil association of the unfortunate with the wicked, and the weak 
 with the audacious, it is impossible but that the miserable inmates 
 should be more and more depraved, embittered, and exasperated. 
 
23 
 
 Witness tlie unintermitted current of misery to tlie county gaol, 
 which is fast sinking into the punishments ward of the union work- 
 house. 
 
 “ Of the 1,300 persons who will probably have been committed to 
 gaol, and stamped for life with that horrible stigma, at least half have 
 been driven to theft by hunger, or to “ contumacy ” by the union offi- 
 cials. Now, is it wholly out of the question that those 650, by a 
 little difference of system and treatment, might be sent to our co- 
 lonies, at an equal cost, in the character and with the prospects of 
 honest working men ? Dorsetshire has lately, with the assistance of 
 Government, sent out an unusual number of emigrants. Why should 
 not it send out more, instead of wasting money, and ruining both 
 body, and soul by confining them in the workhouse or the gaol ? The 
 1,800 sent to gaol this year will never be good for anything again. 
 They will take themselves at the value which society has set upon 
 them, and hold themselves unfit for honest employment. What 
 chance has a man of getting on, when he has been once in gaol? 
 A great part of them will ultimately find their way to our hulks, 
 and to our penal settlements ; costing the state many hundred pounds 
 a-piece before it has done with them. Indeed, it is becoming day by 
 day more evident that we must send out our labourers while they are 
 honest, or at least while their characters are untainted, for before long 
 every one of our colonies will follow the example of the Cape. Nay, 
 Sydney has been beforehand with it. Early last June the whole po- 
 pulation assembled in that place to protest against the colony being 
 once more a penal settlement, and to carry their resolutions to that 
 effect forthwith to the Government-house. Though they exhibited 
 none of the vexatious puerilities of the Cape colonists, their deter- 
 mination was not the less evident, nor can we doubt of their success. 
 We imagine the case of our colonies to be thus with regard to convict 
 labour: — New colonies quite destitute of population, with large tracts 
 of land marked out and sold, or perhaps changing hands, but not yet 
 settled, ask for any sort of labour, no matter its moral character. 
 They must have men of one sort or another, and have as yet no 
 society capable of being corrupted, and no comforts capable of being- 
 marred. After a generation or two, however, society, attachment to 
 the soil, colonial patriotism and pride, domestic comfort, and all that 
 makes a country dear, have sprung up. The new generation will not 
 have convicts. It cares more for security, honour, morality, and 
 peace, than for cheap labour. So all our colonies will turn, will repu- 
 diate this reproach, and England will be left to seek fresh shores 
 for the deposit of her refuse population, or make the best of it at 
 home. With such a prospect before us, it is high time for the land- 
 owners in the less favoured districts, and we think for the Legislature 
 also, to provide more effectual outlets for the perpetual increase of the 
 people. We have always been of opinion that emigration is not so 
 much a question of expense, or of inclination, as of arrangement, and 
 that, on a proper scheme, the nation, the parishes, and the colonies 
 might together provide for an almost unlimited number of emigrants. 
 
24 
 
 The present state of affairs in Dorset, proves that, whatever the ca- 
 sualties or the deterioration that threaten the emigrant, they cannot 
 be greater than what he leaves at home, in that county at least. It 
 is not much better in some others. We are not inquiring into causes, 
 nor do we think it worth while to anticipate the remarks which the 
 mention of such miseries will be sure to elicit in some quarters. We 
 are taking the fact as we find it, and we simply observe that, in all 
 respects, it would be better to send the paupers and vagrants of 
 Dorsetshire to Australia, than to the workhouse and the gaol .” 
 
 Patriotism hesitates to admit decay; but what is above said of 
 Dorset, applies to every county of England, although not yet de- 
 veloped in the poor law and criminal returns. When private, paro- 
 chial, union, and county contributions fail to meet the demands of 
 poverty, the public Revenue and the public lands must meet the case; 
 and unless that is done in time, private property will unduly suffer, 
 and the social compact will be destroyed. 
 
 Is it just after a labourer has faithfully served an estate of thirty- 
 three years, for thirty, for twenty-five, for twenty or even ten years, 
 that at last his wages should be reduced to six shillings per week, or 
 told to go to the Union? If so, government is not constituted with 
 the twofold view, to be a terror to evil doers, and for the encourage- 
 ment of those who do well. There is no encouragement in being sent 
 to the Union and to receive its rations. 
 
 God’s blessing rests not on such conduct. If landlords were to 
 appropriate five per cent, of their land for those who do well and who 
 do not receive poor law relief, they would find the rain and the deAv 
 descend in additional fatness on their land : there would be no loss, 
 it would all be gain. If something of this kind is not done privately 
 by landowners, the pressure from without will occasion it; and minis- 
 ters of finance will be obliged to come forward with proposals to take 
 ten per cent, of all properties for the public service. 
 
 If Emigration is not undertaken nationally, this will be the last re- 
 source, ten per cent, on the capital of the Funded Debt, and on Landed 
 and Household Property. It will be effectual for the time, but it will 
 only whet the appetite. Adopt extensive Emigration, and avoid it. Not 
 expatriating your poor without land, thereby making them still depend- 
 ent for employment on others for their bread, but provide them with a 
 piece of land which shall be inalienable for a certain number of years. 
 
 Finally. — Our present system has resulted in injustice, general 
 poverty, poor rates, crime. The nation can do justice, and render 
 relief, by substituting good feeling, emigration, and grants of colonial 
 land. That will result in progressive civilization, perpetual employ- 
 ment, wealth extensively diffused, superior influence, an unbroken 
 empire, increased power, on earth peace, good-will amongst men. 
 
 Through the acquisition of Gold, a nation has been born in a day : 
 the gift of land on a liberal scale, will turn our colonies into nations. 
 
 Grant 50 acres in Natal to every Briton, 25 to every German and * , 
 
 Chinese, and we may create and find as much wealth as in California, 
 and a more numerous people living on their own productions. 
 
/ 
 
 EMIGRATION TO NATAL, 
 
 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
 
 The undersigned, some years ago, promoted Emigration to Algoa Bay, in the 
 Cape Colony. He did so even without seeing the colony, but acted on good 
 information. He has since visited the Cape and resided three years in the 
 eastern province; and, with one solitary exception, he has every reason to be- 
 lieve that all the Emigrants are doing well. 
 
 But he has also visited the adjacent colony of Natal, and he must confess 
 that however certain a steady man may be of doing well in the Cape Colony, 
 and still better in the Algoa Bay colony, yet Natal is superior to both. The 
 climate is quite as healthy, the land is better, produces a greater variety of 
 articles and in greater quantities. It is not so subject to draught, — Rains are 
 frequent, and streams and springs abundant. 
 
 In the Cape Colony and Algoa Bay the undersigned has no land ; in Natal 
 he possesses a considerable tract, and has left his family there. He is a 
 Devonshire man, and he would do the Devonians good. He thinks Coloniza- 
 tion, as much as possible, should be, the removal of small entire communities 
 from the old, over-populated country, to be replanted together in our colonies, 
 being thus still knit together by the old ties of neighbourhood. Such a move 
 he now proposes extensively. Without speaking ill of any colony, for all are 
 good, except Demarara and Sierre Leone, the undersigned believes that not one 
 of the colonies of England offers greater advantages than Natal. 
 
 England wants employment for her capital ; but still more for her industri- 
 ous poor. England also wants Free-labor-Cotton. In Natal, 1000 cottagers 
 may upon the following plan grow 1000 bales of cotton the first year, worth 
 £8000 ; the next year double ; and if emigration be properly worked, and the 
 interests of the emigrants cared for. Natal, in ten years, may export 500,000 
 bales. Thus may many thousand families attain a competency, if not riches. 
 
 With these view's the undersigned offers to grant absolutely to Married 
 couples, of the avocations hereafter named, 50 acres of good open land with- 
 out any charge whatever except the surveying expenses. Native-built round 
 huts, twelve feet in diameter, are building on the property expressly for the 
 emigrants, in order that each family may at once be sheltered separately, and 
 the father and lads at once turn up the land. For this hut the emigrant will 
 be charged 10.9. being the expence of erection actually incurred. It will after- 
 wards answer for a kitchen or outhouse. 
 
 Townships will be reserved. — No roads are private roads ; the more public 
 the better. No man must irrigate his land, disregarding his neighbour, whose 
 lands may be lower. He must consult before he diverts. 
 
 Looking at what the colony now is, its capabilities and its wants, the under- 
 signed thinks the following will be about the number of each calling desirable 
 to emigrate on this occasion. 
 
2 
 
 Ministers of Established Church . . 3 
 
 Dissenting Ministers 2 
 
 Principal of a Collegiate school. . . . 1 
 
 Schoolmasters, suited as professors or 
 
 tuitors of the same 5 
 
 Surveyor and Draughtsman . . . . 1 
 
 Stationers and Booksellers, with cir- 
 culating libraries 2 
 
 Artist, Wood-engraver and Litho- 
 grapher . . . • 1 
 
 Engineer, Machinist and Pump manu- 
 facturers 2 
 
 Newspaper proprietors aud Printers 2 
 
 Journeymen Printers 4 
 
 Surgeons of ships 4 
 
 Music teacher and Importer, and 
 
 Piano tuner 1 
 
 Chemist and Druggist 2 
 
 Private families with small capitals 30 
 Tenant Farmers, who work them- 
 selves 50 
 
 Farm labourers and Ploughmen . . 500 
 
 Gardeners 50 
 
 Sawyers and Woodsmen 10 
 
 Carpenters 25 
 
 Masons 25 
 
 Brick and Tile makers 25 
 
 Potters 2 
 
 Bricklayers, Plasterers and Slaters . . 25 
 
 Thatchers 20 
 
 Bakers 20 
 
 Butchers 20 
 
 Shoemakers and Cobblers 10 
 
 Tailors 10 
 
 General Smiths 20 
 
 Sadlers and Harness makers .. .. 10 
 
 Wheelwrights and Wagon makers 20 
 
 Fishermen and Boatmen 10 
 
 Painters and Glaziers 20 
 
 Tallow melters, Chandlers and Soap 
 
 makers 5 
 
 Tanners, Furriers, and Leather dressers 5 
 
 Miners and Quarry men 5 
 
 M illers 5 
 
 Cabinet makers 5 
 
 Shipwrights and Boat builders .. .. 5 
 
 Coopers 5 
 
 Tin and Copper-smiths and Braziers 3 
 
 Ironmongers and Tool and Implement 
 
 setters 4 
 
 Cutlers, Gunsmiths, &c 4 
 
 Preserve and Pickle manufactures, and 
 
 Confectioners 2 
 
 Turners 2 
 
 Earthenware and Glass dealer . . , . 1 
 
 Oil and colormen, and Tea and Coffee 
 
 dealers 3 
 
 Brewer 1 
 
 Basket makers 2 
 
 Linen draper, Milliner, Haberdasher, 
 
 Hosier, Hatter, &c 4 
 
 Clock and Watchmaker 1 
 
 Hairdresser, &c 2 
 
 Tobacco, Segar, and Snuff manufac- 
 turers 2 
 
 Seedsmen 2 
 
 All, being married men .. .. 1000 
 
 Every man should be able to turn his band to the plough Elisha was 
 found there. The parson’s glebe should be a model to all the people around 
 him. As regards tradesmen, the more things a man is able to turn his hand 
 to, the better. A strict adherence to this list is not expected, but the nearer 
 it can be accomplished the better for all. As a general rule, if he does not 
 take to his own land at once, every man should take the first engagement that 
 offers, keep his eye open to better himself ; and the cottager devote himself at 
 once to his land. 
 
 Emigration to Natal should consist not of the rich, but emphatically of the 
 poor, — almost of the poorest. £5 in a man’s pocket is quite enough, and if 
 he has not got it, he is none the worse. With industry such a man will soon 
 obtain a competency. 
 
 The rich man can only make money by laboring himself, by employing the 
 labor of others, or by lending money. If he will really labor, superintending 
 and giving an example to his people, he will do well; but gentlemen of Eng- 
 land who have lived at home at ease, are unsuited for emigration. They can- 
 not rough the world ; their education has been faulty for the emigrant’s life. 
 It should have been more practical. All emigrants are struck with the prac- 
 tical common sense of colonists and with the freedom aud independence of 
 their minds. As regards Capitalists only have I any doubt. The experience 
 I have had at the Cape is this, that those who have had money have lost it ; 
 and those who had none at starting, have gathered it. They should be pru- 
 dent and industrious, and lay it out well, and live as though they possessed 
 not, and never intrude on their capital for high living. On first mortgages 
 
3 
 
 they can always make six per cent, and employ any personal talent or leisure 
 at the same time. Six to eight per cent is better than more. Countrymen 
 are far better hands than people from London or any other city, and smock 
 frocks preferable to fine frilled shirts. Let such people employ their first six 
 months in the colony by investigating how business is carried on, — how farm- 
 ing is conducted, — in discovering the quality and value of land, and in be- 
 coming acquainted with the country generally. For six months, his money 
 had better be idle rather than lose it altogether. 
 
 Every emigrant must carry with him the tools necessary to pursue his trade. 
 Scotch or Ransome ploughs, harrows &c., are the farmer’s necessary tools. 
 Seed corn, and vegetable seeds of all kinds should be taken by each emigrants ; 
 all will grow. 
 
 This is not a system of colonization exclusive of all sects but one. The 
 Canterbury system will answer in New Zealand, but not at the Cape. Let us 
 not judge one another, — We being many are one body in Christ, and every one 
 members one of another. In the disposition of Jesus every knee shall bow, 
 heavenly, earthly, and infernal. Nothing avails but a new creature. With 
 Christ there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, 
 Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all and in all ; — Christ died 
 for all, — therefore, for those who differ from us. Receive ye one another, as 
 Christ also received us. For these reasons and a thousand more this cannot 
 be made a sectarian plan. The undersigned is a professed member of the 
 Church of England, but without any prejudice ; and, without any cant about 
 the matter, he wishes true religion to thrive in this Natal community. ‘ Those 
 that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our 
 God.’ — ‘ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem ; they shall prosper that love thee.’ 
 He thinks that he is thus far bound to avow himself. Christian dispositions 
 however, are more important than Christian denominations. — Whatsoever 
 things are pure, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are lovely, 
 whatsoever things are of good report, think on these things. If it be possible, 
 as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Think not every man 
 on his own things, but let every man think likewise on the things of others. 
 Herein is love ! not that we loved God ! but that He loved us ! and sent his 
 Son to be the propitiation of our sins. — Beloved ! if God so loved us, we ought 
 also to love one another ! — But 1 must forbear. 
 
 If all sects would insist on these things, make peculiar dogmas less prominent, 
 and announce that Christ Jesus died not for their own sins only, but for the 
 sins of the whole world, — the day would be hastened when they and all should 
 love another with a pure heart fervently ; ministers are very responsible, and 
 all religionists should seek agreements, rather than mark differences. With 
 these views, and treating persons of all denominations as brother men, the un- 
 dersigned would wish to take one Church of England minister for every two 
 hundred families of that persuasion, and would give him a free passage 
 and £25 per annum for five years. Should there be two-hundred 
 families of Wesleyans, Baptists &c., it will be his duty to support a minister 
 for them to the same extent. Ground for building churches, chapels, schools, 
 parsonages, and for burial grounds, will also be granted, and the undersigned 
 will willingly subscribe £20 per annum to a Collegiate school, strictly secular 
 for the benefit of all.* 
 
 * Connected with this Institution, (which with God’s harmonizing of events will rise 
 into a University,) there will be attached a public library, to which the undersigned 
 will at once contribute two hundred volumes, subscribe fo a-year for life, and settle a 
 fund for its care and perpetual enlargement by transferring the fee of three thousand 
 acres of land in Natal, to trustees, consisting of the Governor, and the Recorder of the 
 colony, the Chancellor of the University, &c. — He will also give land to the Collage. 
 
4 
 
 Every male emigrant to America is enlisted as a militia man. This renders 
 them liable to be sent to a distance from their homes. By entering a volun- 
 teer yeomanry corps at Natal, people will be kept to their own neighbourhood, 
 and thus become mutual helps, if danger ever arises. At Natal the under- 
 signed has no fear and has left his family there : but as precaution is better 
 than cure, he wishes all the emigrants to do as himself, and to enter the 
 yeomanry corps of Natal. A badge upon the jacket, and a uniform hat, will 
 be a trifling expence, and the government will provide the arms. Left to govern 
 itself, Natal can protect itself. Exercising once a month, is all that would be 
 required. 
 
 The sale of arms and of gunpowder to ail natives is totally forbidden. Can- 
 teens or public houses for the sale of wine and spirits, will be disallowed on any 
 part of the property for two years. Road side temperance houses are allowed. 
 Temperance puts wood on the fire, meal in the barrel, flour in the tub, monev 
 in the purse, contentment in the house, clothes on the bairns, vigor in the 
 body, intelligence in the brain, and spirit in the whole constitution. 
 
 All tenants must contribute to road rates for their own advantage either by 
 money or labor, and all will be expected to contribute to the building of some 
 place of worship in the same way, and also to a public school. Every minister 
 should also receive an ample free-will offering from his people. 
 
 With the kind of people the undersigned hopes to get around him, he trusts 
 that improper severity to the natives, (who are generally very docile and in- 
 offensive,) will never be exercised. They are easily managed, and each of the 
 penniless German emigrants lately introduced into the colony now employ from 
 five to ten of them in ploughing &c.* 
 
 The undersigned in publishing this pamphlet respecting the colony, con- 
 taining the accounts of other people from an early date down to the present 
 year, says but little himself, as the accounts of others may be considered 
 more satisfactory. The undersigned will, however, say that having resided in 
 Spain and Holland, and run through France, having seen part of India, and 
 visited China and Madeira, and having lived three years in the Cape colony,— 
 he believes, for an agricultural population, and for the cultivation of cotton and 
 indigo, that no part of the world exceeds Natal. Mineral wealth will probably 
 be discovered in due time. Coal and black lead have been found on the 
 surface extensively. Copper is also supposed to be near. Living is moderate. 
 The temperature is not often too hot ; usually cool in the morning and even- 
 ing. The country, generally, is not too hilly • at the tops of the hills there is 
 little stony or and ground. Roads may very generally be made. Rivers are 
 numerous, and, with an increase of population, will soon be bridged ; unless 
 heavy rains fall, ox- waggons go from D’Urbaa to Petermaritzburg in two days. 
 On horse-back it is commonly ridden in one day on the same horse. The 
 country occupies about 35,000,000 acres. It now contains about 8000 white 
 inhabitants, and 100,000 coloured, who have lately immigrated into it. It 
 will support however, millions of British- born people, in short, as dense a 
 population as Great Britain herself D’Urban town, or port Natal, contains 
 about 800 inhabitants; Petermaritzburg, being the capital, (including the mi- 
 litary) about 1500 whites; Weenen, about 800. 
 
 * Let Englishmen remember that their ancestors at one time were uncivilized 
 Britons. Let them regard these races, not with a false philanthropy, to the injury of 
 our own people, and of these people themselves, but still as beings capable of improve- 
 ment. . Now they display the pure animal, added to the wiliness of the semi-civilized 
 barbarian. Be it for us justly and firmly first to require civilized habits, decency and 
 honesty, and gradually to elevate them from gross sensual objects to the cultivation of 
 their mental faculties, and the implantation of pure moral Christian principles. 
 
o 
 
 My object is to convert the industrious laborer into a respectable small 
 farmer. It is a cottage allotment system on a large scale, having the following 
 advantages : — He has a rough cottage on his allotment, — he is called on for no 
 capital, — his resources will increase according to his industry, — all the pro- 
 duce he offers on the public market, and the profit is all his own, — his serfdom 
 is exchanged for independence. When other people limit their desire for 
 wealth, my people will do the same ; hut I cannot understand that feeling of 
 resignation to poverty, which sentimental folks admire. A full basket and a 
 full store are promised in Scripture as blessings. A quarter of an acre allot- 
 ment, and working at seven shillings a week, for the kindest landlord or 
 master in the world, is as ridiculous a means of conferring comfort or suffi- 
 ciency on a laborer, as it is possible to conceive. It is a gilded deception. 
 Shall not the poor man keep a pig ? may he not keep a cow for his children, 
 •when there are thousands of black people flocking into Natal with herds of 
 goats and cattle ? the prevailing sentimentality for colored strangers and the 
 grinding of our own poor at the same time, stamps the nature of such reli- 
 gion as of a sickly character. He that careth not for his own is worse than an 
 infidel. With such persons, the profession and the practice, the warp and the 
 whoof, are of far different materials. Inconvenience is not felt from a poor 
 man having a few cows, a few pigs, sheep, goats or poultry. Even the 
 butcher does not complain unless he is amongst the most hard-hearted of his 
 trade. Small allotments are like hopes deferred, they make the heart sick. 
 Wages at seven shillings a week to support a family, and a petty allotment of 
 land, is but prison fare with a court in the gaol for exercise. The more the 
 poor man has, the more he will have to spend. Quarter-acre allotments are 
 thought to be large enough, because it is said the poor are bad managers of 
 land and of manure, &c. And what are they to be expected to know with- 
 out the opportunity ? but it is a mistake ; the binds and the laborers frequent- 
 ly know as much as their masters, and, frequently having watched the result 
 of their labor, even a great deal more. 
 
 The working men of England a sturdy race are they ! 
 
 As England, and her every foe, have found before to day. 
 
 Who is it mans her wooden walls ? and fills her ranks in war 
 
 With the bravest that the battle-tide of flood or field e’er saw ? 
 
 Whose hand directs her ploughshares ? whose skill has raised her arts ? 
 
 Whose toil upholds her commerce that now fills the world’s wide marts ? 
 
 Who have achieved these noble deeds ? let humbled Europe tell ! 
 
 The working men of England. Can she tender them too well ? 
 
 Brother men and worthy sons of Devon, the undersigned would not deceive 
 you. If you are steady and refrain from drink, you cannot but succeed. 
 Natal is so fine a country that the undersigned could wish that Devonians 
 would generally adopt it as the Devonshire colony. Of course no other 
 county can be excluded. A good opportunity is offered you. It is intended 
 that this expedition shall consist of 1000 families. Married people always 
 prosper most, and are the most happy in colonies. Single folks may follow ; 
 but the marriageable should take good advice and take a partner before they 
 st j art. There is a greater choice in England. 
 
 No time will be lost by the undersigned in returning to Natal, where he 
 hopes to end his days ; and as soon as a sufficient number of families is made 
 up, he will rendezvous them at Torbay or Plymouth, and start with a gallant 
 band to a noble colony. 
 
6 
 
 The choice of locations will be in the same rotation as parties engage their 
 passages, to be secured by payment of half the passage money. 
 
 Let no man carry useless lumber. If the luggage of an emigrant is more 
 than half a ton measurement, say twenty feet, he will have to pay freight for 
 it. A knife, fork and spoon, a few pieces of crockery, a tin pot, a gridiron 
 and saucepan, will be utensils enough to start with. Riding is so common in 
 the country, that jackets are better than frock-coats, which if put by, may only 
 be moth-eaten. Let every one economize in his fiting out, taking clothes for 
 twelve months only, and no finery. In the colony every thing ma3 r be bought 
 as the emigrant wants it. To buy before, is waste, and prevents his buying 
 when he wants, and what he wants. Many will want a wagon of the country, 
 a span of bullocks, cows, sheep, a horse, furniture, money to employ native 
 labor ; and as each walks up in the world he will find ample employment for 
 all his earnings. 
 
 The passage money of each adult, (and in proportion for children,) will be 
 £10 to be paid here. New bedding will be provided for the emigrants for the 
 sake of cleanliness,— thus the old may be sold ; a few mess utensils will also 
 be provided ; for the whole of which he will be charged twenty shillings, and 
 ten shillings for children. The passage money may be paid either by the emi- 
 grant himself, by the assistance of friends, or by landlords, parishes, clubs 
 or other societies, — landing will cost five shillings each. 
 
 It is hoped that no person assisting others will impose an incorrect charac- 
 ter on the undersigned, either as regards the emigrant’s morals, his age, or his 
 calling. If unsuitable, the blame and the failure of the emigrant must attach 
 to himself and his friends. Certificates of marriage and baptism will be re- 
 quired in every case. All persons must have been vaccinated. As a general 
 rule, no emigrant will be received above forty-five years of age, on these 
 conditions. 
 
 If any landlord, or parish wish to assist fifty or more emigrants to Natal, the 
 undersigned or his agent will either visit the locality, or he must receive a full 
 written description of the proposed emigrants, as regards age, health, trade or 
 calling, number of children, their age, &c., &c. 
 
 J. S. CHRISTOPHER, 
 Promoter of the “ Natal Company,” 
 18a, Basinghall-street, London. 
 
/ 
 
 GOVERNMENT OF NATAL. 
 
 HIS HONOR, BENJAMIN CHILLEY CAMPBELL PINE, Lieutenant Gover-' 
 nor, £800 a-year, and ,£100 for house rent. 
 
 LIEUT. COLONEL E. F. BOYS, 45th Regt., Commandant oe Natal. 
 
 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. 
 
 His Honor the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony. 
 
 The Hon. the Senior Officer commanding H. M’s. Forces in the Colony. 
 
 The Hon. the Secretary to Government of the Colony. 
 
 The Hon. the Surveyor General of the Colony. 
 
 The Hon. the Collector of Customs of the Colony. 
 
 The Hon. the Crown Prosecutor for the Colony. 
 
 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.— 2nd March, /47. — 25th July, /48. 
 
 His Honor the Governor of the Colony — B. C. C. Pine, Esq. 
 
 The Colonial Secretary — D. Moodie, Esq. 
 
 The Public Prosecutor — W. Harding, Esq. 
 
 The Surveyor General — W. Stanger Esq. 
 
 [The Queen reserves to herself the power to increase the number of Councillors.] 
 
 Hon. Donald Moodie, Secretary to Government, Treasurer General, and Registrar 
 of Deeds, ,£500. 
 
 Mr. James Melville, chief Clerk to Secretary to Government £150. 
 
 Mr. Wm. James Dunbar Moodie, 2nd do. £100. 
 
 J. D. Jackson, Messenger, £36 
 
 . Honourable Henry Cloete, Ls. LL. D. Recorder, £700. 
 
 Hon. Walter Harding, Crown Prosecutor, £300. 
 
 J. N. Bishof Esq., Registrar and Master of the Court, £150. 
 
 J. P. Zietsman Esq., Sheriff, £50. 
 
 J. W. O’Hara, Messenger of Court, £30. 
 
 Hon. Walter Harding, Resident Magistrate for the division of Petermaritzburg 
 and D’ Urban. 
 
 Mr. V. Schonnberg, Clerk of Magistrates Court, D’Urban, £60. 
 
 SURVEYOR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Hon. Wm. Stanger, Surveyor General, £400. 
 
 Mr. D. W. Hertzoy, Clerk, £135. 
 
 Mr. E. Mc’Gill, Draughtsman, £135. 
 
 CONTRACT SURVEYORS. 
 
 Messrs. Wm. Greaves, P. L. G. Cloete, T. Oakes, John Bird, and Geo. Moodie. 
 
 CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Hon. W. S. Field, Collector of Customs, £400. 
 
 Mr. J. R. Scott, Clerk and Warehouse Keeper, £200. 
 
 Mr. F. Barrows, Landing Waiter, Searcher and Tide Surveyor, £200. 
 
 Mr. G. Prestwich, Tide-waiter and Locker, £80. 
 
 Mr. Elliot. Acting Tide-waiter and Weigher, £60. 
 
 Mr. J. Freeman, Harbor Master, £200. j Mr. J. Archer, Pilot. 
 
 Theophilus Shepstone Esq., Diplomatic Agent with the native tribes within 
 the Colony, £300. 
 
8 
 
 MAGISTRATES AND JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 
 
 His Honor B. C. C. Pine, Lieut. Col. Boys, D. Moodie, Win. Stanger, Walter Harding, 
 T. Shepstone, James Melville, J. N. Bishof, J. P. Wm. Bell, J. P., C.. J, 
 Labascagne, J. P., £30each. 
 
 RESIDENT MAGISTRATES. 
 
 John Bird Esq., Klip River Division, £250. | Mr. Geo. Moodie, Clerk to do., £80. 
 
 FIELD CORNETS,— <£15 each. 
 
 Messrs. D. Bezuidenhout, Jr. Droakberg, C. F. Lotter, Mooi River. 
 
 H. J. Kruger, Weenen ; Jan du Plesses, Bushman’s River. 
 
 Devald Pretorius, Petermaritzburg ; Devald Pretorius, Little Tugela. 
 
 H. A. Pretorius, Lower Umgeni ; M. Pretorius, Upper Umgeni. 
 
 J. J. Meyer, Port Natal. 
 
 P. G. Boosen, Water Fiscal, £14. 
 
 John Mackeany, Gaoler, Petermaritzburg, £40. 
 
 Three Constables, £36 each. — Two ditto, £22 * 10 each. 
 
 T. Daud, District Gaoler, D’Urban, £40. — One Constable, £20. 
 
 COMMISSIONERS FOR 
 
 LOCATING THE NATIVES, BIVIDING THE NATAL TERRITORY, AND SELECTING SITES 
 
 FOR TOWNS AND VILLAGES. 
 
 Hon. W. Stanger, Surveyor General. The Rev. D. Bindley. 
 
 T. Shepstone, Esq., Diplomatic Agent. The Rev. Dr. Adams. 
 
 C. T. Gibb, Esq., Lieut. Royal Engineers. 
 
 ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 J. C. Cole Esq., Storekeeper. 
 
 W. Brunet Esq., Clerk in Cheque. 
 
 A. A. Speek Esq., — ,, — 
 
 MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT, NATAL. 
 
 Roleia, Vimiera, Talevera, Busaco, Fuentes, D’onor, Cuidad Rodrigo, Badajoz, 
 Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nevelle, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula. Ava. 
 
 45th Nottingham, — 500 Rank and File. 
 
 Col. Sir Colin Halkett, K.C.B. and G.C.B, 
 July 12, 1847. 
 
 Lieut. Col. E. F. Boys, .. July 12, 39 
 Major H. D’Arcy Kyle, .. Sept. 10,45 
 Major W. K. Preston, d .. Oct. 18, 39 
 
 CAPTAINS. 
 
 H. J. Shaw, July 1, 42 
 
 G. A. L. Blenkinsopp, . . Mar. 29, 44 
 
 Robt. Bates, Oct. 15, 45 
 
 H. W. Parish, Feby. 6, 46 
 
 L. B. Gordon, April 15, 42 
 
 R. J. Garden, April 16, 49 
 
 H. D. Griffith, . . 
 W. C. Armstrong, 
 
 Aug 15, 48 
 July 1, 42 
 
 LIEUTENANTS. 
 
 G. W. Morris, July 28, 43 
 
 G. A. C. Kippen, .. .. Oct. 1, 44 
 R. B. Johnstone, .. .. Sept. 10, 45 
 
 Geo. Burrel, 
 W. Dawson, 
 
 G. S. Coxon, 
 C. L. Griffin, 
 Arthur Smyth, 
 
 ENSIGNS 
 
 W. L. Woodford, .. .. Aug. 30, 44 
 
 E. S. F. G. Dawson, . . . . Mar. 25, 45 
 
 R. G. Howard, April 23, 47 
 
 C. D. Cameron, May 19, 46 
 
 W. H. Rowland, . . . . Aug. 2, 48 
 
 F. H. Suckling July 7, 46 
 
 Paymaster, M. G. Taylor, . . July 7, 46 
 
 Quartermaster. J. Cassidy, May 4, 49 
 
 Sur» D. Menzies, . . . . Dec. 13, 39 
 
 A. S., Thos. Best, .. .. April 22, 42 
 
 D. R. Barnes, April 7, 48 
 
 Facings, Green , — 
 
 Agents, — Messrs, Price and Co., London. 
 
 April 21, 43 
 Sept. 12, 43 
 Mar. 29, 44 
 Mar. 29, 46 
 Dec. 9, 45 
 
9 
 
 NATAL YEOMANRY. 
 
 The Honble. Walter Harding, Lieut. Col. 
 P. A. R. Otto, Esq., Major of the Cavalry. 
 J. M. Howell Esq., Captain — — 
 
 [An Infantry Corps is organizing,] 
 
 CAPE MOUNTED RIFLE CORPS. 
 
 Brevet Major, Johnston, .. June 4,47 
 Lieut. W. A. Mill, .. .. April 1, 47 
 
 40 men. 
 
 Commissariat, — Chs. H. Skief, Esq., Deputy Assistant Commissary General in charge. 
 
 Messrs. Jas. Brickill, and J. D. Marquard, Assistant Clerks. 
 
 Mr. J. Murphy, Writer,— Messrs. J. Walcot aud D. Shee, Issuers. 
 
 Besides the Troops, there are about one-hundred and fifty Native Police, 
 under 1 . Shepstone, Esq., who has also the whole Coloured Population under 
 his management, and of whom he is Commander-in-Chief. All contests, for 
 they are very fond of litigation between themselves, are decided by him in 
 open court, under a tree, and his decisions are received even with gratitude by 
 the unfortunate party in the case. His military orders are also implicitly 
 obeyed, and with wonderful alacrity. Pie is esteemed amongst the most 
 worthy in the colony, is of great ability and experience, and should be one of 
 the Legislative Counsel. 
 
 GOVERNMENT NOTICE. 
 
 The Lieutenant Governor has been pleased to appoint Theophilus Shei*- 
 stone, Esq. to be Captain- in- Chief of all the Native Forces in this District. 
 His Honour has also been pleased to approve of the said Forces being for the 
 present divided into Seven Divisions, as follows : — 
 
 The 1st Division to be composed of the Tribes inhabiting the Zwartkops 
 Location and the upper Umkomanzi, led by their respective Chiefs, to be com- 
 manded by Nobanda. 
 
 2. — The 2nd Division to be composed of the Tribes from the Umgani River, 
 below the 'Fable Mountain to the Tugela River, below the residence of the 
 Chief Magedama, led by their several Chiefs, to be commanded by Mankayana. 
 
 b. The .3rd Division to be composed of the Tribes above and below the 
 junction of the Mooi and lugela Rivers, to the sources of the Umkomanzi 
 River, led by their several Chiefs, to be commanded byUmkizwana. 
 
 4. — The 4th Division to be composed of the Tribes"m the lower part of the 
 
 Klip River Division, and at the source of the Tugela, led by their respective 
 Chiefs, to be commanded by- . 
 
 5. — The 5th Division to be composed of the Tribes inhabiting the middle 
 Umkomanzi, led by their several Chiefs, to be commanded by Homoi. 
 
 6- — -The 6th Division to be composed of the Tribes on the banks of the 
 Umlazi and lower Umkomanzi Rivers, led by their respective Chiefs, to be 
 commanded by Nondinisa. 
 
 7. 1 he 7th Division to be composed of the Tribes inhabiting the Northern 
 
 Bank of the Umzincoolo River, led by their respective Chiefs, to be commanded 
 by Zulu ka Nogandaye. 
 
 By command of His Honour the Lieutenant Governor, 
 
 (Signed,) D. MOODIE, 
 
 Secretary to Government. 
 
 Colonial Office, Natal, September 12, 1848. 
 
 D 
 
10 
 
 PORT NATAL AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL 
 
 SOCIETY. 
 
 Established 18 th April, 1848. 
 
 Patron, His Honor the Lieutenant Governor. President, E. Morewood, esq. 
 Vice Presidents, P. J. Jung, esq., Hyp. Jargal, esq. Treasurer, J. A.Ross, esq. 
 Secretaries, The Hon. W. Stranger, esq. M.D., J . Tunner, esq. 
 
 Committee, G. C. Cato, esq., R. Clarence, esq., J. M. Cockhurn, esq. 
 
 and Jas. Proudfoot, esq. 
 
 At a Meeting held at D’Urban on the 14th inst., the sum of Fifty Pounds 
 was voted for Premiums for Field and Garden Products, &c. ; the Exhibitions 
 to take place, and the Prices to be awarded in the year 18o0. 
 
 The Committee is preparing, and will shortly publish the List of Premiums. 
 
 John Turner, Secretary. December 18th, 1848. 
 
 NATAL FIRE ASSURANCE AND TRUST COMPANY. 
 
 Capital £10,000. Established 11 th April, 1849. 
 
 Board of Directors: — The Hon. D. Moodie, esq., Chairman, 
 
 D. D. Buchanan, esq , J. C. Zeederberg, esq., P. J. Jung, esq. 
 Hon. W. Harding, esq., J. N. Boshof, esq. P. Ferreira, esq. 
 
 Auditors, — J. Henderson, esq., A. J. de Knock, esq. 
 Secretary, C. Behrens. Attorney, D, D. Buchanan. 
 
 Fire Department. — Rates of Premium per £100. 
 
 
 
 In which no 
 hazardous 
 
 Containing 
 
 hazardous 
 
 
 
 Goods are 
 contained. 
 
 
 Goods. 
 
 
 1st Class Buildings, brick 
 
 or stone, with 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 flat roofs .... 
 
 • j • • • 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 5 
 
 0 
 
 2nd Class Buildings, brick 
 
 or stone, co- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 vered with slate, tiles, 
 
 or metals . 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 3rd Class buildings, brick 
 
 or stone, with 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 thatched roofs 
 
 
 0 
 
 17 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 0 
 
 4th Class, mattled or such like Buildings, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 with thatched roofs . 
 
 • y • • • 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 In which 
 hazardous 
 Trades are 
 carried on. 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 5 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 Special Insurances according to the nature of the Risks. 
 
 Losses occasioned by Lightning will be paid. 
 
 Abministration of Estates, or other Property in Trust. 
 
 This Branch of the Establishment embraces the Administration and Ma- 
 nagement of the Property of Deceased or Insolvent Persons, of Minors, 
 Lunatics, Absentees, or others. 
 
 Office, No. 22, C., Church- street, next door to Mr. Van Zweel’s Dispen- 
 sary. Office hours from 8 to 10, a. m., and from 4 to 6, p.m. 
 
 C. Behrens, Secretary. 
 
 This Company is the prelude to a BanJc. 
 
 £ 
 
11 
 
 DISCOVERY AND DOUBLING 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
 
 The following information, now generally offered to the British emigrating 
 public, was intended to be supplied to His Excellency, the Chevalier Bunsen, 
 Ambassador from Prussia, to the Court of St. James ; who aware of my inten- 
 tion of visiting Natal, and being desirous of promoting emigration to other 
 countries, besides America, which is not liked by all Germans, requested me 
 to report to him the nature of the country. And in order that the advantages 
 and future importance of this colony may not appear to be an exaggeration of 
 its true merits, I will draw from the records of those who had no mercenary 
 object in view, commencing at a very early period. 
 
 It is generally supposed that the Cape of Good Hope was first doubled by 
 the Portuguese ; Vasco da Gama getting the credit of it. If the moderns will 
 monopolize the credit of all discoveries, and allow none to the ancients, to 
 the Portuguese belongs the honor of discovering the Cape, and of passing on 
 to India, &c. But long antecedent to Portugal being thought of, there was 
 such a people as the Egyptians. We must not measure the importance of 
 that country by its present condition ; Egypt has fallen as much as Rome. It 
 was formerly a magnificent kingdom, where the arts, learning and commerce 
 held their chief seat. A series of powerful and wise monarchs governed the 
 country, and developed its resources. Pharaoh-necho contended successfully 
 with the great Assyrian empire, and the Jews : upon which occasion Josiali, 
 king of the latter, was slain. This was 620 years before Christ. Three suc- 
 cessive kings were also subject to him, and paid him tribute. Of this king, 
 Herodotus, the Greek historian, gives the following account : 
 
12 
 
 “ The first person who proved that Libya, (that is Africa,) was surrounded 
 by the sea, was Necho, king of Egypt. When he had desisted from his at- 
 tempt to join, by a canal, the Nile with the Arabian Gulf, (in which work, two 
 hundred thousand men were killed ;) he dispatched some vessels, (three hun- 
 dred,) under the conduct of Phoenicians, with directions to pass by the 
 Columns of Hercules, and after penetrating the Northern Ocean to return to 
 Egypt. These Phoenicians, taking their course from the Red Sea, entered 
 into the Southern Ocean ; on the approach of Autumn, they landed in Libya, 
 and planted some corn in the place where they happened to find themselves, 
 When this was ripe, and they had cut it down, they again departed. Having 
 thus consumed two years, they in the third doubled the columns of Hercules 
 and returned to Egypt. Thus was Libya (Africa,) for the first time known, ” 
 or circumnavigated. 
 
 If it is at all useful or interesting to endeavour to trace the origin of na- 
 tions, this voyage should not be forgotten. This immense fleet dropping 
 down the coast from Ezion Geber, formerly a navy yard of Solomon’s, passed 
 Aden, Zanzibar and the Mozambique coast. Part of the fleet went to the 
 Island of Madagascar, and then steering along the main land, they called in 
 for water, and to cultivate corn for the next voyage. It is barely possible in 
 doing so, that they should have passed the best harbor on the coast. Port 
 Natal. During these sojourns on the coast, it is to be expected that a little 
 both of the Greek and of the Egyptian character would be stamped in the 
 next generation. Many also probably remained there. Out of three hundred 
 fragile vessels, many must have been wrecked, and the crews in such case 
 would probably become settlers in the country. Thus may the inhabitants of 
 this line of coast have been indebted for "their fine forms and intelligent 
 noble countenances to this Egyptian expedition. After Natal, sailing 
 south west, the expedition would reach Algoa Bay, the county of George, 
 and lastly. Table Bay. Pharaoh Necho’s object was discovery, and from 
 Table Bay, the fleet, after getting and rearing a good supply of food, again 
 set sail ; encountered the broad Atlantic Ocean, passed through the Straits 
 of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean, and thus reached Alexandria. The 
 honor, therefore, of first passing the Cape belongs to Pharaoh Necho, king of 
 Egypt, otherwise called Ptolemy Philadelphus, and not to the Portuguese. 
 
13 
 
 SUCCESSIVE 
 
 ACCOUNTS OF NATAL. 
 
 In the year 1498, the illustrious Vasco de Gama, who transferred the rich 
 commerce of the East from princely Venice to enterprising Portugal, visited 
 the coasts of Southern Africa, on his way to India, and passing the object of 
 our present notice, upon Christmas-day, gave to it the name it has ever since 
 borne, in honour of the nativity of our Saviour, His Natal day. 
 
 This day God came by human birth, 
 
 Atoned Himself to all on earth : — 
 
 Thou beauteous land, this love recall, 
 
 And be for ever, sweet Natal. 
 
 Perestrello, a Portuguese navigator, sent by king Sebastian to explore the 
 coasts and countries in Southern Africa, sailed from Mozambique on the 22nd 
 November, 1575, taking the southern course, and arrived at Table Bay on the 
 28th January, 1576. 
 
 Of Natal, in his dispatch to the king, he thus writes : — “ The first point is 
 in lat. 32. It stretches north-easterly to the third point, and occupies 
 towards the north-east quarter north, about forty-five leagues. It may be 
 known by a huge point of rock; and, four or five leagues from the sea, the 
 country is covered entirely with large trees. When this point is in the 
 north-west, three round little hills are seen about it, and one league beyond 
 to the north-east, there is a wood which reaches to the sea. The summit of 
 the ridge of hills is undulated, and we remarked a space without a wood, and 
 thee others larger than the preceding. 
 
 “ The whole of the Natal coast is bold, with occasional sandy spots between 
 the rocks and reefs; but none of these capable of admitting large vessels. 
 The sea is deep, and the waters clear. There is only one little islet near the 
 land. In the distance are seen undulating mountains, adorned with verdure 
 and rugged. It abounds in trees; amongst them we found the wild olive ; in 
 
14 
 
 the valleys, and on the borders of rivers, mint and beril, and other European 
 plants. The soil is rich, and a great part is fit for cultivation, consequently, 
 the country is populous and well stocked with animals both tame and wild. 
 Of this character is the coast to the last point, which is in lat. 30, distant 
 twelve leagues from point Pescadores. 
 
 “ This point of the country of Natal may be known by being not very bold, 
 with clayey lands towards the west, and downs of sand towards the sea. In 
 coasting it, it appears to run east-north-east and west-south-west, which I 
 remark, because Natal presents three points, viz., the two of which I have 
 spoken, and another almost in the middle of these, and the coast runs along, 
 forming little bays, till it reaches the two first points,” 
 
 The navigator, Dampier, has preserved a very interesting, and somewhat 
 detailed description of the country and inhabitants, their manners and customs, 
 &c\, derived from his friend, Captain Rogers, who visited Natal several times 
 about the year 1684. 
 
 “ The country of Natal takes up about 3° and a-half lat. from north to 
 south, lying between the lat. of 31°. 30s. and 28°. south. It is bounded on 
 the south by a small nation of savage people, called by the English, wild 
 Bush men, that live in caves and in holes of rocks, and have no other houses 
 but such as are formed by nature. They are of low stature, tawny coloured, 
 with crisped hair. They are accounted very cruel by their enemies. Their 
 weapons are bows and poisoned arrows. These people have, for their neigh- 
 bours in the south, the Hottentots. Dela Goa is a navigable river in lat. 28, 
 south, that bounds Natal on the north. The inhabitants of this river have a 
 commerce with the Portuguese of Mozambique, who often visit them in small 
 barks, and trade there for elephants’ teeth, of which they have great plenty. 
 Some English, too, have been lately there, to purchase teeth, particularly 
 Captain Freak, who, after he had been in the river of Dela Goa and purchased 
 eight or ten tons of teeth, lost his ship on a rock, near Madagascar. The 
 country of Natal lies open to the Indian sea on the east, but how far back it 
 runs to the westward is not yet known. 
 
 “That part of the country which respects the sea is plain, champain, and 
 woody; but within land it appears more uneven, by reason of many hills, 
 which rise in unequal heights above each other. Yet it is interlaced with 
 pleasant valleys and large plains, and it is chequered with natural groves and 
 savannahs. Neither is there any want of water, for every hill affords little 
 brooks, which glide down several ways; some of which, after several turnings 
 and windings, meet by degrees, and make up the river of Natal, which dis- 
 chargeth itself into the East Indian ocean, in lat. 30°. south, there it opens 
 pretty wide, and is deep enough for small vessels* But at the mouth of the 
 river is a bar, which has not above ten or eleven feet of water on it in a spring 
 tide, though within there is water enough. This river is the principal of the 
 country of Natal, and has been lately (1684) frequented by some of our 
 English ships, particularly by a small vessel that Captain Rogers (formerly 
 mentioned,) commanded. 
 
 “ There are also other streams and rivers which bend their courses northerly, 
 especially one of a considerable size, about one hundred miles within land, and 
 which runs due north. 
 
 “ The woods are composed of divers sorts of trees, many of them are very 
 
 * In 1845, an American vessel of 300 tons, and a Swede, of 400 tons, passed over 
 the bar, and traded; and in 1849, the Gualior, 495 tons, carrying emigrants, did the 
 same, and then loaded cattle for Mauritius. 
 
15 
 
 j good timber, and fit for any uses, they being tall and large. The savannahs 
 
 are also clothed with kindly thick grass. 
 
 “ The land animals of this country are lions, tigers, elephants, buffaloes, 
 bullocks, deer, hogs, conies, &c. Here are also abundance of sea-horses. 
 
 ( Buffaloes and bullocks only are kept tame, but the rest are wild. Elephants 
 are so plentiful here that they feed together in great troops, one hundred or one 
 hundred and fifty in company. Mornings and evenings they are seen grazing 
 in the savannahs, but in the heat of the day they retire to the woods, and they 
 are very peaceable if not molested. 
 
 “ Deer are very numerous here also. They feed quietly in the savannahs, 
 among the tame cattle, for they are seldom disturbed by the natives. 
 
 “ Here are fowls of divers sorts; some such as we have in England, viz. — 
 duck and teal, both tame and wild, and plenty of cocks and hens; besides 
 abundance of wild birds, wholly unknown to us. Here are a sort of large 
 fowls, as big as a peacock, which have very fine coloured feathers. They are 
 very rare and shy. There are others like curlews, but bigger. The flesh of 
 these is black, yet sweet and wholesome meat. 
 
 “ The sea and rivers also do abound in fish of divers sorts, yet the natives 
 do but seldom endeavour to take any, except tortoises, and that is chiefly when 
 T they come ashore in the night, to lay their eggs; though they have also ano- 
 
 ther odd way which they sometimes make use of to catch turtle or tortoises. 
 They have a living sucking fish, (or remora,) and fastening a couple of strings 
 to it, (one at the head, and another at the tail,) they let the sucking fish down 
 into the water, on the turtle ground, among the half- grown or young turtle, 
 and when they find that the fish hath fastened himself to the back of a turtle, 
 as he will soon do, they then draw him and the turtle up together. 
 
 “ The natives of this country are but of middle stature, yet have very good 
 limbs; the colour of their skin is black; their hair crisped, they are oval 
 visaged; their noses neither flat nor high, but very well proportioned; their 
 teeth are white; and their aspect altogether graceful. 
 
 “ They are nimble people, but very lazy, which probably is for want of 
 commerce. Their chief employment is husbandry. 'They have a great many 
 bulls and cows, which they carefully look after; for every man knows his 
 own, though they run all promiscuously together in their savannahs; yet they 
 have pens near their own houses, where they make them gentle, and bring 
 them to the pail. They have Guinea corn, which is their bread; and a small 
 sort of grain, no bigger than a mustard seed, with which they make their 
 drink. ' • i'- 
 
 “ Here are no arts or trades professed by them, but eyery one makes for 
 himself such necessaries as need or ornament requires; the men keeping to 
 their employment, and the women to theirs. The men build houses, hunt, 
 plant, and do what is to be done abroad; and the women milk the cows, dress 
 the victuals, &c., and manage all matters within doors. Their houses are not 
 great or richly furnished, but they are made close and well thatched, that 
 neither winds nor weather can hurt them. 
 
 “ They wear but few clothes, and those extraordinary mean. The men go 
 in a manner naked, their only garb being a small piece of cloth, made with 
 silk grass or moho rind, and wrought in form of a small apron. At the upper 
 corners, it has two straps to tie round their waists, and the lower end being 
 finely fringed with the same, hangs down to their knees. The women have 
 only short petticoats, which reach from the waist to the knee. When it 
 rains, they cover their bodies with a simple cow’s hide thrown over their 
 shoulders, like a blanket. 
 
 “ The common subsistance of these people is bread made of Guinea corn, 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
16 
 
 beef, fish, milk, ducks, hens, eggs, &c. They also drink milk often to 
 quench their thirst, and this sometimes when it is sweet, hut commonly they 
 let it get sour first. Besides milk, which is the common drink, they make a 
 beer sort from the Guinea corn, purposely to be merry with; and when they 
 meet upon such occasions, the men make themselves extraordinary fine, with 
 feathers stuck in their caps very thick. They make use of the long feathers 
 of cock’s tails, and none else. 
 
 “Besides these head ornaments, they wear a piece of cow hide, made like 
 a tail, and it is fastened behind them as a tail, reaching from their waist to the 
 ground. This piece of hide is about six inches broad, and each side of it is 
 adorned with little iron rings of their own making. When thus attired, their 
 heads a little intoxicated, and the music playing, they will skip about merrily 
 and shake their tails to some purpose, but they are very innocent in their 
 mirth. 
 
 “ Every man may have as many wives as he can purchase and maintain ; and 
 without buying, here are none to be had ; neither is there any other commo- 
 dity to be bought or sold but women. Young virgins are disposed of by their 
 fathers, brothers, or other nearest male relations. The price is according to 
 the beauty of the damsel. 
 
 “ They have no money in this country, but give cows in exchange for wives ; 
 and therefore he is the richest man that has most daughters or sisters, as he 
 is sure to get cattle enough. 
 
 “ They make merry when they take their wives : but the bride cries all her 
 wedding-day. They live together in small villages, and the oldest man go- 
 verns the rest : for all that live together in one village are a-kin, and there- 
 fore willingly submit to his government. 
 
 “ They are very just, and extraordinarily civil to strangers. This was remark- 
 ably experienced by two English Seamen that lived among them five years: 
 their ship was cast away on the coast, and the rest of their consorts marched 
 to the river of Delasor ; but they staid here till Capt. Rogers came hither 
 and took them away with him ; they had gained the language of the country ; 
 and the natives freely gave them wives and cows too. They were beloved 
 by all the people ; and so much reverenced, that their words were taken as 
 laws. And when they came away, many of the boys cried because they 
 would not take them with them.” 
 
 In Hamilton’s account of the East Indies, he gives an account of an over- 
 land journey in 1683, from Dalagoa to the Cape, and of the intermediate 
 country, Natal included. He says, “The natural fertility of those countries 
 makes the inhabitants lazy, indolent, imbecile, and simple. Their rivers are 
 abundantly stored with good fish and water fowl, besides manatus, or sea 
 cows, and crocodiles ; their woods with large trees, wild cattle, and deer, ele- 
 phants, rhinoceroses, lions, tigers, wolves, foxes for game ; and many sorts of 
 fowls and birds, with ostriches.” 
 
 In 1686 a Dutch vessel was wrecked on this coast; an event which led 
 to the purchase of the Natal country by the Dutch East India Company, and 
 on which purchase the present right of the English to that territory, as repre- 
 sentatives of the Dutch government, by conquest and cession, is imagined to 
 be founded. 
 
 The crew of the wrecked vessel, out of the old materials, and such as could 
 be obtained of native growth, at last constructed a vessel fifty feet long, four- 
 teen wide, and two masts, and called the Natal packet. They shipped some 
 provisions of ground meal, two or three tons of corn, two or three hundred 
 fowls, about one thousand pounds of salted and smoked beef, with twenty 
 goats, one hundred and fifty pumpkins, seventeen half leggers (of which 
 
17 
 
 eleven were made there,) of water, and all purchased for the copper and beads 
 of the English, which also sufficed to pay the natives for their labour. 
 
 According to a declaration made by the ten shipwrecked officers and sailors 
 of the ship Stavenisse, 2nd March, 1687, — “They sailed on the 17th Febru- 
 ary, 1687, without chart or compass, after they had resided a year and a half 
 at Natal, and left there four Englishmen and one Frenchman, who thought it 
 better and more advantageous to them to remain there, than trust themselves 
 to the uncertain waves of the sea and of fortune.” 
 
 On the 18th April following, (1687,) the Council at the Cape record the 
 safe arrival of these bold adventurers. It sets forth : 
 
 “ The captain of that vessel, William Knyff, landed here, in a very misera- 
 ble condition, on the 1st March, from Terra de Natal, in a small vessel, built 
 there by himself, three of his officers, seven of his crew, and nine shipwrecked 
 Englishmen. They found the country very fruitful and populous, and the 
 natives friendly, compassionate, obliging, strong, and ingenious, armed with 
 only one assegai; obedient and submissive to their king or chief; living in 
 
 communities in huts made of branches wrought through with rushes and 
 
 long grass, and roofed like haystacks in Holland. In manners, dress, and 
 
 behaviour, they are much more orderly than the Cape Hottentots. The 
 
 women attend to cultivation, the men herd and milk the cows. They do not 
 eat poultry, because they feed on filth, still less do they eat eggs, and it makes 
 them sick to see Europeans eat them. For a copper arm ring, or a common 
 neck ring, of the thickness of a tobacco pipe, they sell a fat cow or ox of six 
 hundred pounds weight, more or less. For a similar ring, they gave as much 
 corn as would fill an ordinary meal-tub ; from which corn they make very 
 well-tasted and nourishing bread, and brew beer, both small and strong, 
 which is not unpleasant in taste, and which they keep in earthen vessels. 
 They eat, besides, a certain bean, in size and taste not unlike the European 
 horse-bean i and also some roots worse flavoured than sweet potatoes. They 
 have tobacco, and smoke it. By good management, its quality might be im- 
 proved. Of fruits, they have only a kind of unknown prune and coloquin- 
 tidas. 
 
 “ There are elephants of an incredible size, and in such numbers, that 
 fifty or sixty are seen together ; wild buffaloes, hogs, cats, sea cows, geese, 
 ducks, and other birds. 
 
 “ Further declaring nothing, except that in less than twelve days, they 
 being eleven Dutch and nine English, landed here from Terra de Natal.” 
 
 This arrival from Natal naturally excited the attention of the Dutch go- 
 vernment. The deposition was clear and satisfactory, respecting the value 
 of the locality, and on the 6th March, (only four days after her arrival,) the 
 Council resolved “ That the Natal Packet should be bought from the English, 
 and her cargo, in order that further examination may be made of that coun- 
 try ; that the forty-seven men left there by the Stavenisse may be sought for, 
 and that the five Englishmen left there by the Natal Packet, may be brought 
 hither, in order, by these means, to deprive European potentates of the pos- 
 session of those countries.” 
 
 Such was the resolve of the Dutch government, and on the 18th April fol- 
 lowing, (1687,) the Governor and Council wrote as follows to the Dutch 
 Chamber : “ Some Englishmen had travelled about fifty milen inland, and 
 
 found metallic ores among the natives, and the art of smelting them : not 
 indeed gold or silver, though the English say that the chief Ingoose wore a 
 bracelet which was much heavier than the copper neck rings ; from which 
 circumstance they conjectured it to be gold. The country is very populous 
 and fertile, abounding in oxen, cows, goats, as also in elephants, buffaloes. 
 
hartebeests, and other tame and wild animals. The inhabitants are ingenious, 
 docile, and obliging ; and for a copper bracelet they will not refuse to carry a 
 weight of fifty or a hundred pounds, a distance of three or four days’ journey, 
 over hill and dale. 
 
 “ Having found the vessel was about twenty-five tons burthen, well built, 
 and sailed well, we bought her of the English for four hundred florins ; for 
 after we have put a few knees, &c., into her, she will last as many years. 
 We bought the residue of their meat for three stivers per pound, and the 
 corn at six guilders per muid. The Commander will have the grain sown, to 
 ascertain if it will grow, as it makes very nutritious bread, and is thought fit 
 for making beer.” 
 
 Part of the dispatch respecting the value of the East Coast of Africa, 
 appears to have been so important as to have been omitted in the copy of the 
 records. The value of this colony the old Governor Van Der Still, appears to 
 have thoroughly appreciated; and yet for forty years since the Cape colony 
 has been ceded to us, the government had done nothing to develope the re- 
 sources of Natal by adopting it as a British colony. 
 
 The Natal Packet being purchased, the government appear to have had her 
 w’ell cleaned and launched on the 4th October, 1687, soon thereafter to make 
 the determined voyage. 
 
 The Resolutions of 24th October, contained orders “ to select a site for a 
 fort, and not only to purchase the ports and adjacent territory, but any place 
 where any mineral was to be found.” 
 
 Petrus de Galardi was ordered “ to keep a minute journal of all proceedings, 
 and to collect full information of the manners and customs of the people, &c. 
 using all proper caution not to make those people stubborn, or averse to us, 
 bv shewing too great covetousness, for they are otherwise very obliging, kind, 
 and mild. And notwithstanding their pleasing address, hospitality, and liber- 
 ality, you will maintain a strict watch and good discipline, and be always on 
 your guard against sudden attacks. It is particularly directed that Divine 
 service is to be performed morning and evening, that there be no excess of 
 wine, &c., the source of all evil, and the cause of loss of time, health, office, 
 and respect. Above all, take care that no one injures any of the natives, on 
 pain of the severest punishment. For the attainment of the desired result 
 of these negociations, it is only required that during your stay at Terra de 
 Natal, you preserve a courteous, honest, just, chaste, and kind, but at the 
 time, a dignified, demeanour; not suffering the slightest annoyance to be 
 given to any of the natives by our people, but trying to attach them to us by 
 every kind of civility, and asking them what kinds of merchandize they can 
 supply to the Company, and how much of each kind annually.” How differ- 
 ent this anxiety to trade with Natal, compared with the discouragement pre- 
 sented by the English Government until the year 1846. 
 
 Another article of the instructions to the commander of this expedition is, 
 to buy from Ingese, the chief, for the Honble. Company, the Bay of Natal 
 and adjacent country, for beads, copper, cutlery, or what might please the 
 people, to the value of 20,000 guilders, (about £1790,) of which the parti- 
 culars were not to be mentioned in the deed to be signed by the chief, Ingese, 
 and his nearest relatives.” The result of the voyage, and the negociation, is 
 thus given in the Governor’s dispatch. “ On the 4th December, 1688, the 
 Noord arrived before the Bay of Natal, which she safely entered the following 
 day, and after embarking the residue of the crew of the Stavenisse, and so- 
 lemnly purchasing that Bay, with some surrounding land, from the king and 
 chiefs of those parts, for some merchandize, consisting of copper arm and 
 neck -rings, snd other articles, on behalf of the Honorable Company, (whose 
 
19 
 
 marks were set up in various places,) and proper attention being paid to every- 
 thing, they sailed on the 1 1th January, 1689,” 
 
 Extract from the log-book of the galliot Noord, on a voyage from the Cape 
 to Dalagoa river, 5th January, 1689. 
 
 “ At 4 p.m. being high water, we passed into Natal Bay ; the natives 
 towed us along with a lead line, until one one-third myl within the entrance, 
 where we anchored in four and a half fathoms ; in the evening, I, your quar- 
 termaster William, accompanied the boatswain and boy of the Stavenisse to 
 their lodging, wdiere we found six very fine cattle. After fastening one for 
 slaughter next dey, I next went with the others to a krall, and eat some milk 
 and bread of the new corn. We found these people very civil and kind, but 
 without the least fear of God. 7th, — This morning the natives came to the 
 opposite bank, with milk, bread, and pumpkins to barter. We got about a 
 quart of milk for six or seven beads ; and for eight or nine, six or seven pump- 
 kins ; so that these natives prefer beads to food : for we bought about half a 
 pound of bread for five or six beads. 1 6th, — This morning I went with 
 the mate and the boy of the Stavenisse to the north side of the Bay, and 
 about two milen along the beach. We found it very steep, but all clear sand, 
 without rocks. About two milen from the point where the vessel lay, we 
 found a small river, which discharges itself into the sea, but is not navigable, 
 as the channel is very narrow. Going about a myl up this river, we found 
 fresh water, and good people, who at once gave us milk for beads ; then we 
 struck directly across the country for the vessel, guided by three or four 
 natives, singing as they went. Our party, W'ho had been eight days out, 
 returned to-day : the mineralogist brought some stones, with some red glit- 
 tering sand stone. They had been about twenty four or twenty five mylen 
 to the north of the galliot, to the flat hills which we could see from the vessel. 
 These hills are level on the top, with fine grass, but uninhabited. 20th, — I 
 went to the opposite shore to barter ; there were about one hundred natives 
 with milk, beans and poultry, so that I bought about a sack of beans, a half 
 aum of milk, ten or twelve fowls, and sixteen pumpkins. 23rd, — At day- 
 light, weighed anchor and made sail. In sailing out of the opening you must 
 steer for the north point of land, keeping close along the east bank, though 
 not nearer than twelve feet, for with ten feet the galliot touched, though 
 slightly. If the house (1689) is kept in a line with the outward point of 
 land, that which is seen from a distance, the furthest land bearing N.N.E., you 
 are then in the right channel, with two fathoms ; and when the open sea is 
 seen between the south shore and the great rocks, you are then outside, in 
 three fathoms.” 
 
 The Noord reached Natal on the 5th January, 1689, and sent a long report 
 of the settlement to the Governor and Council, who, thereupon sent the fol- 
 lowing dispatch to the States General of Holland, than which nothing could 
 possibly more attest its fertility. 
 
 “ One may travel six or nine hundred miles through the country without 
 any fear of men, jmovided you go naked, and without any iron or copper, 
 for these things give inducement to those who possess them. 
 
 “ Neither need one be in any apprehension about meat and drink, as they 
 have in every village a house of entertainment for travellers, where these are 
 not only lodged but fed also. 
 
 “ In an extent of fifteen miles travelled by your servants along the coast to the 
 depth of about thirty miles inland and through five kingdoms, they found no 
 standing waters, but many rivers, with plenty of fish and full of sea-cows. 
 
 “ There are many dense forests with short stemmed trees : but at the Bay of 
 Natal, are two forests each fully a mile square with tall straight and thick trees 
 
20 
 
 fit for house or ship building, in which is abundance of honey and wax; but no 
 wax is to be had from the natives, as they eat the wax as well as the honey. 
 
 “ They cultivate three sorts of corn, as also calabashes, pumpkins, water- 
 melons, and beans, much resembling the European beans: they sow annually a 
 kind of earth nut, and a kind of underground bean, both very nourishing and 
 bearing a small leaf. Tobacco grows there wild, and if they knew how to 
 manage, it would in all probability resemble the flavor of Virginia. The true 
 European Fig grows wild, also a kind of wild grapes, a little sour but well 
 tasted. They have also a kind of tree fruit not unlike the fatherland ; wild 
 prunes grow abundantly on the shore and are well tasted. There are also wild 
 cherries. Finally they have an apple, not unpleasant eating, not ripe however 
 till they fall ; but before thev fall they are nauseous and cause flatulency. 
 
 “ The country swarms with cows, calves, oxen, steers, and goats. There are 
 few sheep, but no want of elephants, rhinoceroses, lions, tigers, leopards, 
 elands, and harts with branched horns : roebocks of various kinds, wild hogs, 
 dogs, buffaloes, sea cows, crocodiles, and horses. The latter they do not catch 
 or tame, although they approach within ten or twelve paces ; they are finely 
 formed and quite black with long manes and tails, incredibly swift and of great 
 strength ; some have the tail black, and some white. They have also an 
 animal described as a giraffe. They have many kinds of snakes, scorpions, 
 centipedes, toads, and frogs, ostriches, geese, ducks, pigeons, partridges, 
 pheasants, paers and balearick cranes. In the rivers are eels and congers, 
 and in the bay of Natal, king’s fish and sun fish, besides all kinds of fish known 
 in India or here, as may be seen from the annexed account taken down from 
 the mouths of our men.” 
 
 The States General of Holland obtaining this favourable report of Natal, in 
 their dspatch to the Governor of the Cape, dated 30th September, 1689, wrote: 
 
 “From what is testified of the fertility of the country it will be desirable 
 that we should fully inform ourselves upon all points connected with it, and in 
 particular whether there are any good bays or harbours where ships may lie in 
 safety.” 
 
 It has thus been made apparent what the Dutch Government have hereto- 
 fore thought of Natal. There were two official memoirs on South Eastern 
 Africa published in Amsterdam in 1718, much of which would be confirmatory 
 of what has already been written, but I select one paragraph shewing Colonel 
 Parry’s opinion respecting Natal. “ I consider it one of the most fertile 
 regions upon earth, and capable of producing inexhaustible supplies of grain 
 and other provisions, if settled.” 
 
 Passing over slight events in 1806, the Cape and its dependencies were 
 ceded to England, and finally confirmed to her by the treaty of Paris in 1815. 
 The reports of Englishmen will now come to confirm what proceeds. 
 
 In 1823 Lieut. Farewell, R. N., Mr. A. Thomson, a merchant of Cape 
 Town, and Lieut. King, R. N., undertook a trading expedition to the east 
 coast in the Salisbury, but being short of provisions, and a couple of boats 
 being swamped, they took shelter in Natal harbour. The voyage however, 
 proving unsuccessful, the Salisbury and her tender, the Julia, returned to Cape 
 Town. 
 
 In 1824, Farewell informed the governor of his intention to repeat the ven- 
 ture, and his Excellency encouraged it as one whose success he should hear of 
 with satisfaction, being a likely means of establishing commercial intercourse, 
 and of civilizing the inhabitants of that part of Africa. 
 
 In September, 1824, Lieut. Farewell reports his success from Natal itself, 
 as follows : — 
 
 In consequence of your lordships’ kind wishes for the success of my un- 
 
21 
 
 dertaking to Natal, I beg leave to intrude on your lordship a sketch of my 
 proceedings since my arrival here. 
 
 I communicated with Chaka, king of the Zulus, to whom belongs the 
 whole of the country from Natal to Dela Goa Bay, extending inland, according 
 to their account, some hundreds of miles. After some difficulty I obtained 
 permission to visit him, and proceeded with a small party above one hundred 
 and fifty rniles N.N.E. from Port Natal to his residence, and had the plea- 
 sure of being the first European ever here. The king received us surrounded 
 by a large number of his chiefs, and above eight or nine hundred armed men, 
 observing a state and ceremony that we little expected. He was particularly 
 pleased at hearing my intention in coming to Natal, was to remain there, 
 making me a sale and grant of part of his country in that neighbourhood, of 
 which I forward to your lordship a copy. At the same time he gave us a 
 number of cattle for our support, and expressed a wish to send two of his 
 chiefs to the Cape, for the purpose of being acquainted with the English na- 
 tion. Vv e had an opportunity of further gaining his friendship by curing him 
 of a dangerous wound he received since we have been here. 
 
 1 he territory he has made over is nearly depopulated, not containing 
 more than three hundred to four hundred souls, who appear much pleased at 
 the manner of its disposal, of which Chaka has informed them. The climate 
 seems perfectly healthy, with a good soil, fit for any purposes, and well 
 wooded and watered, four rivers of magnitude running through it into the 
 sea : which from their depth and width seem to derive their sources from a 
 considerable distance inland, and to afford the means of communicating there 
 by water. The portion granted me affords every prospect of being a most 
 desirable one for settlers, of whom a few families could protect themselves, if 
 necessary, and support could be derived for any number, the rivers abounding 
 in fish, and cattle being to be had at a very moderate rate. I beg leave, there- 
 fore, to suggest to your lordship that many of that class at the Cape, particu- 
 larly agriculturalists, who appear to be living in great distress, (from the bad 
 management of the government emigration in 1820,) would here find a com- 
 fortable asylum, and the means of much benefitting themselves and families, 
 as well as the English nation, by forming a colony on a spot so well adapted 
 for civilizing and establishing a trade with the interior of S. Africa : which 
 amongst other benefits to be expected from it will eventually occasion a large 
 consumption of English staple manufactures. It possesses a port, the only 
 one on the coast, where vessels drawing nine feet of water, can at all times 
 enter and be as secure as in a wet dock : whilst those of a greater draught are 
 protected from a westerly wind by a point that projects some distance, — form- 
 ing a bay in which there is good anchorage outside the bar. The distance 
 from the Cowie is so small that a vessel after discharging her cargo there at a 
 very trifling expence, would land passengers at Natal. 
 
 “ 1 took possession of the country made over according to the tenor of the 
 document forwarded to your lordship (on the 27th August,) and hoisted the 
 English colors, and fired a salute in presence of a number of Chaka’s chiefs, 
 which proceeding I trust will meet with your lordship’s approbation and sanc- 
 tion, as well as that of the English Government.” 
 
 Signed, F. G. Farewell. 
 
 Lieut. King, of the same party says “ Port Natal is easy of access fur vessels 
 not drawing more than eight feet of water for the last of the flood tide. It 
 has on its bar eleven feet at high w T ater spring tides, — at times it exceeds that 
 depth. This harbor is perfectly sheltered from all winds, and is sufficiently 
 large to contain thirty sail. The Cape forms a spacious bay where ships may 
 
22 
 
 ride in safety with S. W. and westerly winds, in from nine to eleven fathoms, 
 sandy bottom. The best anchorage is when the Cape bears S. by W. half W ; 
 or S. S. W., at the distance of half a mile. 
 
 “Early in October, 1825, I started from Natal with the party, also two 
 horses of the country. For three miles beyond Natal we travelled over a 
 beautiful plain, interspersed with trees, to the river Omgani, which we crossed 
 with ease. After proceeding over a long and dreary beech, eighteen miles 
 over, we turned off inland, and went about seven miles on a hard path. 
 Though low, the land then rises abruptly, and becomes bushy, except at the 
 entrance of the rivers Stotee, Umsloota, and Umlungos, not navigable. 
 
 “ The country was once populous, and well cultivated, but the tribe has been 
 destroyed by Chalca. The next day we passed a beautiful country covered 
 with verdure and trees to the Umsloota, which is much infested by alligators. 
 Next day we passed over a similar country, but without trees, having however, 
 innumerable herds of cattle. We saw a large river, the Mafotu, winding 
 through those meadows. Very near there is a chain of hills to the left ; to 
 the right a beautiful plain, with prickly gum trees, with which this country 
 abounds. The next day we came to the river Nonota, (at night troubled by 
 rats, fleas, cockroaches, and musquitoes.) The next day brought us to an 
 exceedingly beautiful country, with shady gum trees dispersed over green mea- 
 dows, and enlivened by cattle, guinea fowl, caffer cranes, and a variety of 
 animals. 
 
 “ Next day crossed the river Cinquas, and several rivulets, stopping at 
 Tutugal (Tugela,) a river of magnitude within the bar. It is said to be the 
 largest on the Natal coast, is serpentine, and very majestic, full of alligators, 
 and sea cows of a large size.” 
 
 I now make a few extracts from the travels of Mr. Isaacs, in 1828. 
 
 “ The people bestow but little pains in preparing the land for cultivation. 
 The boys cut and clear the bushes, never extract the roots nor turn up the 
 surface. The wood or bush is burnt and the ashes strewed over the land. 
 This is all the preparatory labor for sowing. Afterwards the women commence 
 their labor by scattering the corn on the surface without order or precision. 
 This completed, the ground is turned over in the seed, but much is uncovered. 
 After germination, a month alter sowing, women and girls clear it. Two 
 months after sowing it begins to ripen, and at the end of the third month it 
 is hard, and fit for garnering. Thus with an industrious people, three crops 
 of corn each year might be easily raised. They plant both the Guinea and 
 the Indian corn. We introduced at Natal, a regular system of husbandry; 
 and our natives had become accustomed to it, that we had but little difficulty, 
 latterly, of preserving our crops in regular succession. The natives have 
 several sorts of beans or pulse, all differing from the European bean ; they 
 grow productively, and are an agreeable vegetable. They also cultivate a seed 
 called the “ Loopoco,” — it is not dissimilar to rape in size and color. Of this 
 the natives make their beer, which is produced by fermentation. It contains 
 very powerful fermentative properties, and when drawn off from the vessels 
 in which it is prepared, it is a red, or light brown color ; an excellent be- 
 verage, both potent and stimulating. 
 
 “They raise four sorts of potatoes, red, white, pink, and brown, all of them 
 sweet, and not of the European description, but a very good vegetable for 
 culinary purposes. Pumpkins and melons grow spontaneously, and are also 
 cultivated to great perfection, while they have an excellent vegetable both in 
 appearance and flower like spinach ; it grows also spontaneously. 
 
 “ They have a great variety of wild fruits, particularly the aumuntingoola, 
 about the size of a plum, rich in flavor, and with seed," instead of a 
 
23 
 
 stone in the body of it. This makes a most excellent and a highly flavored 
 preserve. 
 
 “ The sugar cane is wild, and I suppose an indigenous plant. They do 
 not cultivate it, though the soil seems adapted for its growth, as it runs to a 
 prodigious height, and the cane is of large dimensions. They have two sorts, 
 one grows larger than the other ; the former the natives call ‘ Moaba,’ the 
 latter, ‘ Simpla.’ The plantain is also another native vegetable, which with 
 the ‘ edoc ’ and yam are substitutes for bread, although they have a bread 
 made from Indian" corn, pulverized and made into a sort of thin cake, which 
 they bake by putting it into hot ashes. 
 
 “Every sort of European seed for horticultural purposes which we had 
 brought from the Cape, grow exceedingly well, and produced luxuriantly, par- 
 ticularly the smaller sorts of vegetables. Salads we raised prodigiously fine 
 and rapidly. Cabbage lettuce grow in great perfection, as did the beans, and 
 kidney beans, and a variety of other seeds, particularly spinach. 
 
 “The fact is, the climate of Natal is congenial to vegetable life, as is 
 proved by the rapid germination of the seed after it is sown. The seasons 
 are also exceedingly encouraging to the growth of all vegetable productions ; 
 the dew, during the intervals of the periodical rains, being extremely fertiliz- 
 ing and nutritive. There are at times checks to vegetation in Natal, as in all 
 other parts of Eastern Africa, but they are far from being common visitations. 
 Ike 'principal is the locust . — They now and then spread their destructive in- 
 fluence, and their devastation is great, but only one or two instances occurred 
 during my five years residence, of their appearance amongst us. Those I 
 have already detailed, and even then I was somewhat surprised, from the pro- 
 digious flight of them, that they did not do more damage. 
 
 “The country of the Zoolas, eastward of Natal, is much infested with 
 wild beasts, and those of every species of the African continent, — at Natal, 
 however, and for a large space around it, they have been greatly disturbed, 
 and have gone further inland, fearing the effects of our fire arms and the force 
 of people collected and settled within a small circumference. In my various 
 peregrinations, I have met with elephants, buffaloes, tiger-cats, leopards, 
 panthers, hyaenas, wild boars, wolves, jackals, iron hogs, or crested porcupines, 
 monkeys, ant-eaters, civet cats. The foregoing animals at a time were very 
 numerous in the vicinity of Natal, but from the causes stated, are greatly de- 
 creasing. Various species of the antelope, are common. Otters are common 
 in the rivers, which the natives hunt and catch in traps. 
 
 “ To the easUoard of Natal there are also to be found the rhinoceros, lion, 
 camleopard, zebra, baboon, vivera, kangaroos, gnoos, and hares, also the 
 hippopotamus and alligator, and other amphibious animals. 
 
 “ Of domestic animals, they have horned cattle, being the great object of 
 their various contests, namely the beeve, the cow, and the bull. They have 
 also sheep and goats, and the domestic dog. Hogs are only to be found 
 among the Europeans who have imported a few for breeding. Their cattle are 
 not large, but exceedingly good meat, and the sheep are of the Cape species, 
 with broad tails, and with fine hair instead of wool. The goats, like the 
 sheep, are used for animal food, and are very fine eating. 
 
 “ Of the feathered race, there is a great variety. The wild sort are easily 
 obtained, and often killed by the natives with a sort of small club, which they 
 throw with great precision. The Numidian crane, the crowned crane, black 
 eagle, vulture, heron, flamingo, wild turkey, wild goose, wild duck, partridge, 
 grouse, galina, or guinea fowl, owl, and dove of various descriptions, are 
 common, besides birds of varied plumage, but none with any note. The do- 
 mestic fowls are the same as in the British settlements of the Cape, 
 
24 
 
 " It is quite clear that the people must be numerous from the thickly settled 
 hamlets which the face of the whole country exhibits. Within a short period 
 our settlement, which was somewhat circumscribed, contained upwards of two 
 thousand persons, and this number naturally augmenting at a rapid rate in a 
 few years of peace, and when civilization begins to spread, may, in all proba- 
 bility, increase by almost geometrical progression. 
 
 “The Zoolas cannot be said to be without manufactures, although they are 
 not very skilful in their fabrication. They smelt the iron ore in a soft porous 
 stone hollowed for the purpose. From this metal they fabricate their hoes for 
 turning up the soil in their gardens, or corn pdats ; and although these hoes 
 are of rather rude construction, they are effective enough for their limited 
 state, or knowledge of husbandry and are useful for such purposes in the ab- 
 sence of more eligible implements. They also make very small spoons and 
 skewers, and other articles similar to them. The skewer is not fabricated for 
 European use, but as a substitute for a needle in sewing their clothes. They 
 also make copper ornaments, such as arm and neck bangles and balls, by 
 which the females ornament their clothes, and they manufacture horn and 
 W’ooden spoons, milk pails, which they neatly carve, and small wooden orna- 
 ments for their ears. Mats to sleep on, and pillows, they make from rushes, 
 and very neat baskets of various sizes and designs from grass. They also 
 make a hat of the same material, in shape of the Malay hat, which is very 
 useful, being impervious to the rays of the sun. They are extremely clever 
 in making a variety of pots and jugs from different colored earth or clay. 
 These they prepare very neatly in different shapes, figures, and sizes, and in- 
 tended for domestic use. Their implements of war are of their own inven- 
 tion and manufacture, and these weapons, particularly their assagais, they 
 ornament. They have been taught by Europeans the use of many sorts of 
 tools used by carpenters, masons, &c., which they afterwards sought with 
 extraordinary avidity. 
 
 “It has been made manifest, I trust, that the country of the Zoolas, of 
 which Natal is the port or bay for anchorage, is one not only interesting from 
 the peculiar character of its people, but entitled to the consideration of an 
 enterprising people like the British, from the variety of objects it holds out as 
 attractive to the speculator, and from its contiguity to their establishments on 
 its western frontier. 
 
 “ The practicability of establishing a settlement at Natal has been clearly 
 illustrated. It comes then to this point, — is it desirable to extend coloniza- 
 tion ? and if so, is Natal an eligible site for such a design ? does the country 
 which it is the chief, or only port, hold out encouragement for commercial 
 enterprize ? 
 
 “ With regard to the first proposition, — where colonization can be effected 
 without entailing any expenditure on the state, — when it opens a new and 
 unknown vent for the consumption of the manufactures of our country, by a 
 lucrative barter traffic, and contributes to its revenues and to the employment 
 of its artizans ; such colonization should be countenanced. 
 
 “As to Natal itself, I shall say without hesitation, and from local experi- 
 ence, that Natal is an eligible site for a settlement, and that the inducements 
 for commerce are valuable and flattering. The bay of Natal is the only con- 
 venient place for anchorage. It is a secure harbor, and has water sufficient 
 on its bar for the navigation of such vessels as commerce would require. 
 There is no other bay on its coast eligible ; and at the mouths of the several 
 rivers, though these are large, there is no anchorage for vessels larger than 
 boats or barges, from the estuaries being all intersected with bars of sand. 
 The country also in the vicinity of Natal is fertile, luxuriant, and capable of 
 
Published far J S . Chr [slop h& 
 
 L. 
 
y 
 
 A 
 
great agricultural improvement, and is most bountifully supplied with springs 
 and streams of extremely pure water, with a soil of inconceivable depth and 
 clearness, all affording to the cultivator ample reward for his industry, and to 
 the settlers a prodigious supply of vegetable and animal food, as well as poul- 
 try and fish. These are the internal advantages which Natal presents, and I 
 feel confident that the most sceptical of my readers will think they are such 
 as cannot well be surpassed. 
 
 “ With respect to the interior productions of the Zoola country, which, since 
 the settlement of the Europeans at Natal, have found their way to the latter 
 place in barter, I must submit a few observations explanatory of their nature. 
 The most important articles of commerce with the Zoolas and neighbouring 
 tribes, are ivory, gold dust, gum arabic, gum copal, tortoise-shell, hides, 
 pearls, coral, and marble : while the Longooie mountains are said to contain 
 silver ore. But other articles might be abundantly produced, such as indigo, 
 cotton, and silk. The soil and climate for the two former, and the mulberry 
 plant, being highly congenial ; and the strongest testimony adduced in favor 
 of cultivating the indigo and cotton, is, that they now grow spontaneously 
 and luxuriantly. An experiment has also been tried with the mulberry, and it 
 grows prodigiously. In exchange then for these, the indigenous productions 
 of the Zoola country, the manufactures of Great Britain are alone required. 
 The market, or exchangeable commodities, are, printed and white cotton stuffs 
 of inferior texture ; woollen stuffs of inferior quality, beads of various colors, 
 pewter, brass, tin, iron pots and kettles, earthenware, looking-glasses, checked 
 shirts, policat, and imitation Madras handkerchiefs, with various other things. 
 
 “ It will be seen, therefore, that a most important vent for British wares and 
 merchandize, might with very little encouragement be advantageously intro- 
 duced into the Zoola country, and be bartered for its indigenous productions.” 
 
 Such is the highly satisfactory account of the country by Mr. Isaacs, by 
 residence made thoroughly acquainted with the subject. 
 
 An American missionary’s travels in the Natal country were published at 
 Boston in 1837, from which I make a few extracts. 
 
 “ 2nd January, 1836. — To-day our ten bullocks came, valued at forty-six 
 rix dollars each, or £3. — Ten are accounted sufficient for a team in this coun- 
 try, though twelve or fourteen are the number in the Cape colony. 
 
 “4th. — We ascended the high ground which surrounds the harbor, and 
 passing the station Berea, proceeded in a northerly direction towards a pecu- 
 liarly-notched mountain in the distance, which joins a long table-land on the 
 left. The country presented everywhere the most beautiful appearance. 
 Everywhere the tall grass waved with the breeze. Yew trees, some of them 
 very picturesque at a distance, met our view. Great variety was observed in 
 the undulations of the ground, presenting every sort of hill and valley. In 
 about five or six miles distance, we came upon the high ground which over- 
 looks the Umgeni. This river flows from some distance in the interior to the 
 sea, and at times is so flooded as to be impassable. We here crossed the 
 river sixty feet wide, and three or four feet deep. At about three o’clock it 
 was much cooler and pleasanter for travelling. Our bullocks took us forward 
 at the rate of three miles an hour, through an interesting country. Patches 
 of mimosa bush were quite frequent. The aspect of the country was con- 
 tinually varying. The grass in some parts had grown very much to weeds. 
 The country is evidently capable of supporting a great many people, and once, 
 doubtless, did contain a great population ; but the love of war, and self- 
 aggrandizement, have left a vast region around Natal desolate. The milk tree 
 was very frequent to-day. It has leafless shoots and branches very brittle, of 
 
 E 
 
26 
 
 a rectangular shape; and covered with prickles. On making an incision, a 
 milky substance exudes. We have as yet discovered no loose rocks, but to- 
 day we noticed in the beds of the streamlets, strata of bluish slate, much af- 
 fected by the weather. The soil appeared very rich, having upon it the black 
 mould of the decayed grass of centuries. The waggon was drawn to the side 
 of the bush, and the oxen dismissed to roam at their leisure. 4 he grass is 
 so good that they generally fill themselves, and then come and lie down by the 
 waggons. 
 
 “5th. — Crossed the Umhlote, (a river in the reeds,) infested with alli- 
 gators. The tall reeds were considerably above the top of the waggon. 
 
 “ 6th. — Heat oppressive, but a cool breeze springing up before noon, 
 which is said to be usually the case, afforded us much relief. We proceeded 
 over a fine road, in many places perfectly level and free from stones and drift. 
 We saw two or three large trees, the only ones in our journey that might 
 suffice for planks and boards. The timber for these purposes is said to be 
 found at a greater distance from the coast. Tracks of elephants and other 
 animals were numerous. 
 
 “ Generally on ascending each rise of ground, a fine champaign would 
 stretch out before us, fringed in the distance by woody hills. A plant very 
 much resembling the banana, abounds. r lhe true banana is also found. Ihe 
 descent to this, as to all the rivers, is very gentle, sloping here and there 
 around hills, till just as you arrive at the bank, the descent is almost perpen- 
 dicular. It is but a short time since, that Dingaara ordered all the people to 
 leave this section of the country, and fixed their boundary at the great river 
 Um Tugelah. After passing the Umlali, w 7 e passed through a country of fine 
 rolling land with scarcely a bush on it, and covered with high grass. Here we 
 had a pleasant view of the Umvoti, flowing down from a distance among 
 woody hills.” 
 
 Although not in its proper place, (as it is before me,) I insert what Captain 
 Owen, of H. M. ship Leven, wrote of Natal in 1823, — He is speaking of 
 Delagoa Bay, as follows These are the positive advantages for Great 
 Britain, to which may be added, that her sovereignty might extend thence as 
 a focus southwards, until it embrace the whole of the coast of Natal, appar- 
 ently the richest and best endowed land in all Africa. ” 
 
 I will now make a few extracts from a pamphlet written by Saxe Bannister, 
 Esq., late Attorney General of New South Wales, and a traveller in South 
 Africa. 
 
 “ At length this well- watered, and, what is of the greatest importance to 
 African civilization, this healthy country of Natal, is adopted as a British pos- 
 session, and four or five hundred white emigrants, some British-born, long 
 settled there, and the large majority of Cape, origin, arrived within four years, 
 are again British colonists; so thatl 5,000,000 of fertile acres thus acquire a 
 new British character. 
 
 “ Natal is a country bordering on the Eastern Ocean, situated between lat. 
 29, and 31, 30 south ; with above three hundred miles of coast, and extend- 
 ing above one hundred miles from the ocean, north westward. In 1834, an 
 officer of great experience, and known caution, Dr. Andrew Smith, now staff 
 surgeon to the garrison of Chatham, was sent to Natal by the governor or 
 the Cape, expressly to examine the nature of the soil, and the capabilities 
 of the country for colonization. Dr. Smith’s report has been laid before the 
 House of Commons, as follows : — 
 
 “ The district in question, is bounded on the west by the Umzimvooba 
 river, on the south by the sea, on the east by the Umgani river, and to the 
 northward its limits have not been correctly ascertained. It may be estimated 
 
27 
 
 to contain about 20,000 square miles, the principal part of which is peculiarly 
 fitted either for the objects of the agriculturalist or the grazier. The more 
 western portion presents numerous extensive flats, thickly covered with lux- 
 uriant grass, and abounds in rivers and rivulets, the waters of which could 
 be led over thousands of acres at comparatively little expense, — a feature in 
 the character of the country that is hardly within the comprehension of the 
 Cape colonist. 
 
 “ The middle and eastern divisions, again exhibit a broken undulating sur- 
 face, and abound with low knolls, in some places clustered together, in 
 others separate, and connected by rich meadow, covered with a most beau- 
 tiful and abundant vegetation. Here the rivers are particularly numerous ; 
 and some of them, whose sources are far in the interior, are very large. The 
 more considerable ones commonly run in deep channels, and from the banks 
 being generally rather precipitous, their waters could not be made available 
 for extensive irrigation, which, however, is of no importance, as the number 
 of small rills, and powerful springs, which everywhere exist, render depen- 
 dence upon the larger springs, quite unnecessary. In many of the meadows, 
 water was observed oozing out in every direction. Indeed, the best idea I 
 can give of its peculiarity in this respect, is by stating, that what the tra- 
 veller has to hunt after in other parts of South Africa, with the most anxious 
 solicitude, is here everywhere so close at hand, as almost to constitute an in- 
 convenience. 
 
 “ Trees fit for timber, exist everywhere in sufficiency, but they are more 
 abundant towards the eastern and western extremes. In those directions, 
 forests of considerable extent, occur, but without the great proportion of un- 
 derwood which exists in those of the colony. 
 
 “ Such an effect was produced upon one of my party, a Dutch farmer, on 
 our entrance into this beautiful country, that for several days he could scarcely 
 give utterance to any thing but ‘ Wonderful !’ — I have never in my life seen 
 such a fine place, — I shall never again reside in the colony, if the English go- 
 vernment make this a settlement.” 
 
 “ The hymn of the much maligned, ill-used, but devout Dutchman, thus 
 expresses his feelings : — 
 
 Op bergen, en in dalen, en overal is God; 
 
 War wy ook immer devalen of zitten daar is God; 
 
 Waar myn gedactiten zcveven of stygen daar is God; 
 
 Omlang en hoog verheeven, ja, overal is God. 
 
 Paraphrased as follows : — 
 
 On lofty mount, and lowly dell, — and everywhere is God ! 
 
 Where’er my eye may stay or dwell,— there, everywhere is God, 
 
 My thoughts if fixed, or wand’ring round,— do ever meet their God; 
 
 Whether to skies, or deeps profound, — yes ! everywhere is God. 
 
 " Although, however, there was everywhere such an abundant supply of 
 food for cattle, our oxen evidently lost flesh, a circumstance which led us to 
 fear the grass was either of an unhealthy nature, or deficient in nutritive 
 principles. Our farmer soon explained from what it arose, and satisfied me 
 that in all countries, where the grass is not burned from time to time, the 
 same occurrence almost invariably happens to the cattle depastured upon it. 
 
 On approaching Port Natal, where we first came in contact with some of 
 the natives, I eagerly questioned them in regard to the subject. They all 
 with one accord, attributed it to the cause just mentioned, to a man affirming 
 that a more healthy country for cattle could not be found, and that in former 
 times, when it was thickly inhabited, their cows could scarcely walk for fat. 
 
28 
 
 This circumstance I mention, to prevent it being supposed that I was unmind- 
 ful of any peculiarity that might militate against the country ; and also to 
 meet remarks which might be made, were it occupied and stocked without due 
 precaution. 
 
 “ Three successive crops of Indian corn, are mentioned as being sometimes 
 reaped in the course of the year. The like information I also had from un- 
 questionable authority ; hut at the same time, 1 was not given to understand 
 such to be a common occurrence. The natives usually sow only twice, and 
 each time reap an abundant harvest. On casting their seed into the ground, 
 they never fear the result ; they know not what it is to have a crop burnt up, 
 or die from drought. The rains are so regular as to render irrigation unneces- 
 sary. On some occasions, I was almost disposed to consider them as indulg- 
 ing in exaggerations, being aware of their anxiety to have it colonized by the 
 English ; yet when I applied to the farmer I have already mentioned, he 
 seemed to see no reason to doubt the accuracy of their statements. That 
 there could be no lack of water, I should myself have concluded without 
 any other evidence than that furnished by an examination of the geological 
 structure of the country, and of its vegetable productions, a great many of 
 which have been found to appertain to orders known to be natural only on 
 moist soils.” 
 
 Respecting the soil near Port Natal, Dr. Smith says : — “ Grass thrives in 
 profusion, close to the very limits of the salt water, and large herds of cattle 
 could be fed within the range of the guns of the fort .” — ( House of Commons 
 papers, for 1835, — No. 252, p. 99, 100J 
 
 At the same period, 1834, a large body of the inhabitants of Cape Town 
 applied to the government, to found a colony at Natal, declaring that it was 
 ' well wooded, and watered with upwards of a hundred large rivers and 
 running streams ; that the soil is fertile, the rains periodical, and the climate 
 cooler than that of the Cape, and highly salubrious.’ 
 
 These accounts weighed so much with the governor of the Cape, as to in- 
 duce him strongly to recommend the formation of a colonial settlement at 
 Natal. In the preceding year, 1831, another governor, who had before 
 doubted the capabilities of that country, changed his opinion, and reported 
 favourably of it to the Secretary of State. The grounds of that change are 
 fully set forth in the Parliamentary Document already quoted, and from 
 which the following passage is extracted : — 
 
 “The information which I have obtained from those persons who have 
 lately, as well as at former periods, returned from Natal,” says the civil 
 commissioner of this portion of the Cape, “ has strongly impressed me with 
 the expediency, or rather the necessity, of the British government taking im- 
 mediate possession of the harbor, and occupying the adjacent country, with 
 the consent of the Zoola chief, which there is no difficulty in procuring. 
 
 “ That portion of the Zoola territory which is uninhabited, and which 
 Dingaarn, (the king of the Zoolus,) wishes to be occupied by white people, 
 may be in extent along the sea-shore, about three hundred miles, beginning 
 at the Umzimvooba, or St. John’s River, and ending on the Tugela, sixty or 
 seventy miles to the eastward of Natal. Its breadth varies from sixty to one 
 hundred miles, and a range of high mountains separates it on the north 
 from the populated part of the Zoola country. The whole of this extensive 
 tract is represented, by my informants, as capable of sustaining a more dense 
 population than any other part of Africa which they have seen ; and some of 
 them having travelled far into the interior, are therefore able to contrast one 
 portion of the country with another. The seasons are said to have been 
 
29 
 
 r egular for the last eight years ; that is since King and Farewell’s party have 
 resided here. The rains begin in September and end in March, and are 
 rarely accompanied by high wind, which is the constant attendant on rain 
 in the Cape colony. Springs and rivulets are abundant, flowing near the 
 surface, and easily led out. But irrigation does not seem necessary, for the 
 former inhabitants, before Chaka destroyed them, usually chose the highest 
 lands for cultivation. One hundred and twenty-two rivers, whose names are 
 promised to me, fall into the sea between Port Natal and the Umzimvooba. 
 Some of these are considerable streams, particularly the last ; but none be- 
 sides it are navigable, and its capabilities have not yet been clearly ascer- 
 tained. Timber of the finest quality and dimensions, is found in great plenty, 
 and even forests of great extent are met with, especially on the banks of 
 the last-named river, and in the vicinity of Natal. All the productions of the 
 earth are represented to be of a more vigorous growth than the same produc- 
 tions in the colony, which is an additional proof that they must have a much 
 greater portion of rain than falls to our share. The climate is stated to be 
 milder in winter, and not warmer in summer, than in the colony .” — ( House 
 of Commons papers, for 1835, — No. 252, p. 58J 
 
 Very recent descriptions of Natal, published since several thousands of the 
 Cape colonists have migrated to that country, prove beyond the possibility of 
 doubt that its capabilities, considered solely in reference to agricultural settle- 
 ment, are very great. That emigration has indeed unexpectedly confirmed the 
 views of the judicious officer whose report, published by Parliament, concludes 
 in these words: — “ A detachment of sixty men, with a magistrate to administer 
 the law, and communicate with the Zoolas, would in my opinion be quite suf- 
 ficient for the protection of a small mercantile community. It would, how- 
 ever, be next to impossible to confine it long to such a class of persons. The 
 character by which this country is known, both in the colony and elsewhere, 
 would urge thither persons of all descriptions, and in no long time the entire of 
 the district now lying waste would be covered with emigrants, who if they 
 were commonly industrious, would soon convert it into a most flourishing 
 settlement . — {House of Commons papers, for 1835, — No. 252, p. 100.) 
 
 The details to be given in a future page will shew the sagacity of Dr. Smith, 
 by proving that, already, Natal has a white population of some thousands, who 
 have began to export fine wool and other valuable articles. 
 
 Of those recent descriptions, two are here selected, as particularly good; 
 and they are the more trustworthy by having been published at the Cape, in 
 the face both of those who were familiar enough with the truth to be able to 
 detect falsehood, and of others whose jealousy of the new colony, and other 
 motives for opposing the settlement of Natal as British, would prompt them at 
 once to expose exaggerations. The first is from a cape Colonist, Mr. Boshof, 
 who traversed Natal from the mountains to the sea; the other was written by 
 a well known and experienced Wesleyan Missionary, the Rev. Mr. Archbell, 
 who went from the Cape Colony direct to Natal. 
 
 “ On the 19th May, 1838,” says Mr. Boshof, “we descended the Draak- 
 berg (for several months the tops of these mountains are covered with snow) 
 with six waggons and a cart, and reached its base in an hour and a half. Some 
 parts of the descent were so steep that we were compelled to chain two wheels; 
 but upon the whole the road is not very difficult. From the foot of the moun- 
 tains to Port Natal the distance is computed at forty-two hours with horse 
 waggons (210 miles,) In the winter the cold is severe on these mountains; 
 out on descending into the level country it is temperate; and as you approach 
 Port Natal it becomes still warmer. On the 4th June, (nearly the middle of 
 
winter in this latitude) we saw in the garden of a native, under a woody hill, 
 a distance of between fifty and sixty miles from the coast, Indian corn of 
 luxuriant growth in full blossom, together with tobacco plants and pumpkins 
 and calabashes, all uninjured by frost. At Natal we partook of two large 
 dishes of Indian corn in a green and unripe state. 
 
 “ On the whole the climate is healthy, and so mild that two crops of almost 
 every kind of grain may be reaped in a year. The soil is a dark mould, deep, 
 loose, and very fertile. Indian corn has been often found in the fields of the 
 natives, of such vigorous growth, that a man on horseback standing in his 
 stirrups, could not reach the top of the plant. This grain, as also Kaffir corn, 
 pumpkins, and tobacco, are grown without irrigation. It it said that from Sep- 
 tember or October to March, and sometimes to April, rains are so frequent that 
 the highest hills may be successfully cultivated. Independent of this, however, 
 there is such abundance of water, both by rivers and springs, that by means of 
 irrigation a hundred times more produce might be raised within the compara- 
 tiuely small tract of country over which I travelled from the Draakberg to 
 Natal, than in the whole of the Eastern Province. But as irrigation does not 
 appear necessary, with very rare exceptions, it appears certain, that were there 
 sufficient population, the whole country might be converted into corn fields 
 and plantations. 
 
 “We crossed, in our progress, several beautiful rivers, the largest of which 
 are the Tugela and Umgani. In rainy seasons I have no doubt but they are 
 navigable for large boats for a considerable distance. The other rivers are 
 the Little Tugela, the Bushman’s, the Umvoti, the Umlalas, the Umlas, and 
 several other streams. All these streams have their sources in the Draakberg, 
 at a distance of from fifteen to thirty miles higher than where the road 
 crosses the range. In many places they are capable of being led out without 
 any other expense or labor than merely making a channel to conduct the 
 water. 
 
 “ From the character of the soil and climate, I have no doubt but that 
 every kind of fruit-tree which grows in the colony, will flourish there. I 
 have seen bananas, dates, a species of medlar, and some others, growing wild, 
 as also a sort of cane, and Spanish reed, which are indigenous. 
 
 “ Timber for building purposes, waggon-making, &c., is everywhere to be 
 had. The country is hilly, but it is quite open, the wood only growing along 
 the margin of the rivers, and in the kloofs. Near Port Natal, for fifteen miles 
 from the shore, it has, however, the appearance of a continued forest. 
 
 “ The pasturage is extremely rich, and very healthy for large cattle and 
 sheep. The whole face of the country is thickly covered by a great variety 
 of grasses, growing from one to eight feet high. It sometimes, for many miles 
 in extent, has more the resemblance of corn-fields, than grazing ground. 
 
 “ Elephants, elands, buffaloes, and wild boars, are found in this part of the 
 country; but animals of prey are very rare. After we descended the Draak- 
 berg, we never saw so much as the footmarks of a jackall, wolf, lion, or 
 other noxious or ferocious animal. Sheep are permitted to graze at a great 
 distance from the camp, day and night, and are uninjured. 
 
 “ The cattle, sheep, and horses, excepting such as have been much used, or 
 kept close to the camp, are very healthy, and are in excellent condition. The 
 farmers state that they have had no disease amongst either cattle or sheep all 
 the time they have been there. The horse-sickness, however, similar to that 
 known in the colony, is also prevalent there. 
 
 “ The roads are smooth and good, although the country is not level. 
 Stones are rarely met with, except in the beds of rivers.” 
 
 T'he Rev. J. Archbell, the missionary quoted, describes Natal in the follow- 
 
31 
 
 ing terms : — “ The country from Graham’s Town to Port Natal, varies greatly 
 in quality and feature, and may, on account of the distinctness of its cha- 
 racter, be divided into four parts, each rising in beauty and rich fertility above 
 the other, as we proceed to the eastward. 
 
 “ The lines of demarcation are the principal rivers which intersect it at 
 nearly equal distances, each part being distinguished by its peculiar mineral 
 and botanical productions. 
 
 “ The parts adjacent to Natal are superior to the rest, and exceed in capa- 
 bility any country I have yet seen in southern Africa. The verdant hills, 
 and prolific valleys, fertilized by numerous inexhaustible streams, teeming 
 with rich vegetation of great variety, fully justify the rapturous exclamations 
 and glowing imagery employed in its description. A view of the country 
 from an eminence, is enchantingly picturesque, being agreeably broken and 
 richly studded with patches of jungle, just rendered pervious to the pioneers 
 of civilization, by the depredations made on its magnificent timber. Such is 
 the country running parallel with the coast, for about thirty miles inland ; 
 from whence, to the very base of the Quathlamba range, it is undulating, and 
 entirely open. Here trees, and bush, of any kind, are so rare, that even fuel 
 is difficult to be obtained. 
 
 “ The soil is similar to that everywhere found at the same distance from the 
 sea ; but here it is rendered peculiarly fertile by its tropical position, and na- 
 tural structure. Near the sea it is sandy, but the interior parts are of red 
 and fawn-colored clay, especially on the elevations. The soil of the valleys, 
 and about the sources of rivers, and fountains, is of black mossy loam. 
 
 “ Except the vine,” (which I have seen very luxuriant,) “ every foreign plant 
 has thriven well, and the native fruits are uncommonly luxuriant. Some of 
 these are of exquisite flavor, and will doubtless be introduced into extensive 
 use. One, the amathlala, is like a large orange. Another equally abundant, 
 and much more agreeable and useful, is the Nata kulna. It makes a very 
 pleasant and valuable preserve. 
 
 “ Sweet potatoes are raised here in almost unconsumable quantities ; but 
 principally near the coast, the sandy soil of which suits them. The banana 
 is found in some parts ; and the castor-oil tree is common and large. From 
 its seed the natives, and I believe some of the emigrants, extract the oil, 
 which has been pronounced good. Cane, also, is found here in great abundance, 
 and from fifteen to twenty feet high. This, as well as the juice of the 
 euphorbia, which is everywhere large, may ultimately produce articles of 
 valuable export. Recent experiments have proved it to be reducible to a tex- 
 ture, like that of Indian-rubber. 
 
 “ The woods are like those of the colony of the Cape of Good Hope. 
 There is also a kind of ebony, beautiful as rosewood, and taking a fine 
 polish.” 
 
 To these testimonies, in regard to the unvarying fertility of the soil of 
 Natal, one may be usefully added from an entirely independent quarter. An 
 American, who was familiar with the best districts of New England, and Ohio, 
 and who, in 1837, was in London, after passing a considerable time both in 
 Natal, and in the interior towards Lattakoo, told the writer of these pages, 
 that the part of S. Africa in question, “surpassed all the countries he was ac- 
 quainted with, in agricultural capabilities, and in the advantages of its cli- 
 mate. He added, that when he left Natal, at which time the emigrant 
 settlers had not arrived from the Cape-colony, and none but native grown 
 grain could be collected, valuable cargoes of it might have been got for the 
 provision trade of Bourbon and Mauritius. 
 
32 
 
 NATAL AND THE CAPE EMIGRANTS. 
 
 (From a correspondent of the Ware Afrikaan, a Dutch newspaper, published 
 
 in Cape Town, of Jan. 24, 1840.) 
 
 Sir, — Before proceeding to give you the contents of my journal, I am anx- 
 ious first to give you a short account of the Natal country, and its inhabi- 
 tants, &c. 
 
 “ This beautiful country is bounded, as occupied by the emigrants| accor- 
 ding to the last treaty, on the north by the bay and river of St. Lucia, the 
 Zoolah country, almost in a straight direction to the destroyed town of 
 Dingaan, Umkunkingloof ; on the west by the Draakbergen, and southward 
 by the river Umsimvobo. 
 
 “ The principal, largest, and most known rivers to the north of the bay of 
 Natal, are, the Umtogeila, with its branches ; the little Togeila, Mooi, and 
 Boschjesmans rivers ; the three last-mentioned of which spread themselves 
 over the north-westerly part of the country : further, the Umtogaat, Umvooti, 
 and Umguini, with several others. To the south, the Umlaas, Umcomaas, 
 Lovo, Umsincoola, Umsimvoba, &c.; nearly all these rivers have their origin 
 in the Draakbergen. It appeared to me that most of them are navigable only 
 for boats during the rainy seasons, and some throughout the whole year ; 
 with little trouble and expense they may also be led out, the land along the 
 same being generally low. 
 
 “The mountains are few in number. — The principal are the Quathlamba 
 and Draakbergen, constituting the north-westerly boundary, and the I able 
 mountain to the east of Pietermaritzburg. The country is in general hilly 
 and open, densely covered with all sorts of good and wholesome grass ; wood 
 groves in the ravines, and along the banks of the rivers. Near to the shore 
 the country has the appearance of an uninterrupted grove. The yellow, 
 assegaai, iron, Sneeze, and Tamboote wood, grow in abundance ; the last 
 mentioned sort much resembles mahogany ; the emigrants also say, that 
 white and black ebony are to be found there, — these sorts, however, I have not 
 seen. 
 
 “ The climate is very salubrious, agreeable, and mild, now and then rather 
 close ; two crops may be laid in yearly ; the soil is very fertile, deep and 
 loose, being of black earth, and in some parts red. Nearly every thing, such 
 as potatoes, vegetables, fruit trees, &c., grow about half as quick as in the 
 colony. Wild fruits of a very agreeable taste, amongst which the matagoela, 
 (Itungula, plural Amatungula,) the pride of Natal, has the principal place, 
 and which much resembles our plums; also the wild orange, the medlar, and 
 various sorts of berries, are found in abundance. The Indian corn grows to 
 an immense height; this, and also the Caffre corn, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, 
 and tobacco, grow without irrigation. The rains commence in October, and 
 end in March ; much dew falls during the winter. 
 
 “ The pasturage is very rich and wholesome for black cattle and sheep ; the 
 thorn fields are deemed extremely well adapted for the last mentioned, es- 
 pecially for merinos. — During my stay at that place, upwards of 2,0001bs. of 
 wool, of Natal produce, have been sold to the traders; few, however, apply 
 themselves to the breed of wool. 
 
 “The black cattle and horses are very fat, and in excellent condition, but 
 subject to the diseases prevalent in the colony. It is, however, to be re- 
 marked that not a single head of those, that came from Oliphantshoek, has 
 died, A cross with the Zoolah cattle, as has already been effected, will 
 probably have a beneficial result. 
 
33 
 
 “ The country abounds in elands, buffaloes, hippopotami, and different sorts 
 of antelopes ; as also in elephants, lions, tigers, &c. Many farmers almost 
 exclusively subsist on game, the most of them being very fond of the flesh 
 of the hippopotamus : game is, however, diminishing daily. The elephants, 
 which are found in troops, are sometimes very outrageous; for about six 
 months ago, six or seven of these gentlemen arrived at the first camp of the 
 farmers, at the Congella, passed the house of the Landdrost Roos, nearly 
 destroyed with their feet some Caffre habitations, and killed two of the 
 friendly Zoolahs. The Caffres have great trouble in keeping these giants out 
 of their gardens during the night : this is commonly done by keeping up a 
 tremendous shouting, by which the animals are frightened, and run away. 
 They begin, however, to become a little more polite, for the deadly aim of 
 the emigrant has already brought several to the ground. 
 
 “The birds are fine and beautiful, and very different from those in the 
 colony. Among them are, the Mahen, or Caffre crane, much esteemed by the 
 Zoolahs, the clamorous hadida, whose sweet sounds echo morning and 
 evening through the air, the beautiful and sweet-voiced loerie, the golden 
 cuckoo, the green pigeon, a few sorts of parrots, wild ducks of different sorts, 
 wild turkeys and geese, and many others too numerous to particularize. The 
 snakes are uncommonly large ; I saw four caught alive, about fourteen feet in 
 length ; they appeared to me to belong to the race of the boa constrictor, and 
 were very young. . One of them was sent to the colony, and may I believe, 
 still be seen alive in the museum. The rivers abound in fish. The springer, 
 which is to be found in shoals in the bay and mouths of the river, is un- 
 commonly large, and very fat. 
 
 “ The population between the Togula, or Togala, and the river Umsimvobo, 
 consists of the renegade Panda and his large army, and the friendly Zoolahs 
 and emigrants. Most of the first mentioned have fled from the late blood- 
 thirsty tyrant Chaka, king of the Zoolahs. They reside in the environs of the 
 Umguini, the bay of Natal, the Umlaas, the valley of the Umlomoos, 
 Boschjesmans Rand, to the west of the town of Pietermaritzburg, and at 
 some other places. Their number is estimated at upwards of four thousand. 
 The greater part of them are of pretty great service to the farmers, being 
 their herdsmen, in which respect they have thus far behaved themselves as 
 faithful servants ; they are deadly enemies to Dingaan. The council intends, 
 as soon as peace shall have been permanently settled, to point them out a 
 special spot for their location. 
 
 “The number of emigrants at present in the Natal country amounts to 
 about six hundred men, capable of bearing arms. 
 
 “ At the Western side of the Modder and Zand rivers, there aiso are a great 
 number; according to accounts, above three thousand. The reasons that 
 these people remain so long on that spot, are some malicious and injurious 
 reports spread by persons who are hostile to the emigrants ; they are, how- 
 ever, now convinced of the contrary, and were busy preparing themselves to 
 proceed to Natal. 
 
 “The emigrants have not, hitherto, considered it advisable to spread them- 
 selves and cultivate to any great extent. 
 
 “ They live together in numbers of one hundred, or fifty and sixty fami- 
 lies. The principal spot where they are now, and which they have chosen as 
 their chief town, is Pietermaritzburg, called after the late Governor Pieter 
 Retief, and the Commandant, G. Maritz ; it is situated in a westerly direction 
 from the bay of Natal, and from which it is about the distance of twelve 
 hours on horseback. It is intended to lay out this town in a very regular 
 manner, and to build it in a square ; about six hundred erven have already 
 
34 
 
 been granted, the greatest part of which has been enclosed, sown, and 
 planted. The dwellings at this place, as well as in the other camps of the 
 farmers, are very crowded, and built close to each other, surrounded by some 
 sort of palisade work, for repelling any hostile attack. The other camps are 
 situated at the rivers Umlaas, Umcomaas, the little Boschjesmans river, the 
 Little Togeila, &c. About twenty families have also established themselves 
 at the Congella, situated about one hundred paces on the western side of the 
 bay. The site chosen, and considered particularly well situated and adapted 
 for the erection of a village in the vicinity of the bay, is situated not far from 
 the anchorage of the ships. It is situated between the Congella, the river 
 Umguini, and the late camp of the English, being an extensive and fertile flat. 
 Only water is not too plentiful at that place, though there is no difficulty in 
 leading the river Umguini thither. 
 
 “The people in general are very peaceable, good, and well-behaved. 
 During n^ stay there, being about nine months, not a single crime of a 
 serious nature has occurred amongst them. Their government is of a demo- 
 cratic nature, based on the Dutch law. They call themselves the “Republic 
 of Natal.” The first and greatest power among them is the Council, consist- 
 ing of twenty-four members chosen by the people. They exercise the highest 
 power, and ordinarily hold their meetings monthly, but, if required, oftener, 
 when one of the members is chosen chairman. They seem, however, gradually 
 to depart from this custom, and rather to incline for a president annually 
 chosen. Mr. S. Maritz, brother to the deceased Commandant, now holds the 
 situation of chairman ; in that capacity he has ever conducted himself 
 disinterestedly, impartially, and deservedly, and is very justly called by the 
 people “ our father.” They have also two Landdrosts, each assisted by six 
 Heemraden, one of whom, Mr. Philippus Nel, is at Pietermaritzburg, and the 
 other, Mr. F. Roos, at the Congella. They generally try all petty-civil and 
 criminal cases. In cases of a serious nature, such as banishment, hard labour, 
 as also sentences of death, &c., a jury of twenty-four is summoned, from 
 which twelve are elected, who give their verdict. The Landdrost on such 
 occa.-ions presides as judge. All sentences of death must be sanctioned by 
 the council, (Volkraad.) 
 
 “They have also several Commandants and Field Cornets, and one chief 
 and principal Field-Commandant, who, in time of war, has the supreme power, 
 and regulates every thing in the military line. He is, however, always sub- 
 ject to the orders of the Council. Mr. A. W. Pretorious, formerly Field- 
 Cornet in the district of Graaf-Reinet, and who is much beloved, respected, 
 and honoured by the people, now holds this important situation. 
 
 “ The emigrants have unanimously resolved never to return to their native 
 country ; nay, rather to defy all danger, to suffer every want, than to allow 
 themselves again to be placed in a situation in which they have to undergo so 
 many disasters, which they have had to experience in the colony, in their own 
 country. They wish for peace with all mankind, even with a tyrant, on whom 
 the blood of their children calls for revenge for his treachery and cruel mur- 
 ders committed. 
 
 “ They desire a liberty undisturbed and fairly regulated, but not in name 
 only. They are determined to retain the country obtained by them in a law- 
 ful manner, and which they have afterwards had to purchase with their blood, 
 and rather to suffer the last drop of blood to flow from their veins than to 
 give it up again. 
 
 “ They are further anxious to have a clergyman from among their own 
 countrymen, and also some teachers.” 
 
35 
 
 I now append extracts from a dispatch addressed by Her Majesty’s Com- 
 missioner, the Honorable Henry Cloete, to his Excellency, Sir George Napier, 
 Governor of the Cape, dated the 4th July, 1843. After describing the 
 cession of Natal by Dingaarn, king of the Zoolus, to the Dutch emigrant 
 farmers, he says: — “ Under this grant the emigrant farmers took possession 
 immediately of the territory bounded by the Quathlamba mountain-range, 
 (called by the farmers Draaltsberg, or Dragon mountains,) to the northward ; 
 to the Tugela, to the eastward ; and the Umzimvooba to the westward. This 
 territory forms nearly a paralellogram extending from the 29th to the 31st 
 and a- half degrees of southern lat., and from the 29th to the 31st degrees of 
 eastern longitude, comprising an area of about 35,000 square miles, inter- 
 sected by numerous permanent streams and rivers, and presenting (from the 
 little I have yet seen) the most picturesque and fertile tract of land on 
 the face of the globe.” 
 
 The whole territory, from tire Umzimvooba to the Tugela, was ceded to the 
 Dutch farmers by Diagaarn, as appears by the testimony of the Honorable 
 Henry Cloete ; but in consequence of orders from home, that part from 
 the first-named river to the Umzincoola, has not yet been occupied, or con- 
 sidered under British jurisdiction, but it is a valuable portion of Natal, as will 
 appear by what follows. Within this district some fine specimens of copper 
 ore have lately been found lying near the surface. The following extract is 
 derived from the secretary of the exploring expedition of South Africa. 
 
 “From the Omzimvooboo, lat. 31. 34., long. 29. 24., to the Omtavooms 
 river, is a distance along the coast, of fifty-five miles, and the division I have 
 marked by these boundaries, contains about two thousand superficial miles. 
 It is almost destitute of human inhabitants ; a few only residing close to the 
 first named streams, and belonging to the Amaponda race, having been de- 
 populated by the fire-brand and spear of the Zoola conqueror, whose march has 
 been well traced by our readers, by the innumerable remains of human 
 skeletons with which the whole country is strewn. 
 
 “ The Omtawoomoo, (or Umzincooloo) river, whose course is seventy miles 
 long, and whose estuary is in lat. 30. 55., and long. 30. 7., is a great physical 
 line of demarcation, and forms a perfect boundary between the N.E. and S.W. 
 part of the colony, distinguished by the comparative severity of its tem- 
 perature and climate, the cold being intense, and the rains very frequent, as 
 well as by the difference in its vegetable productions, the wild date and 
 banana, which are common beyond this division, entirely ceasing to exist 
 westward of this stream. All the seaward portion of this tract is covered by 
 dense woods, and possesses the most magnificent forest scenery. Its trees 
 have been generally represented as very different from any of the colonial 
 kinds, and one especially has received the homage of most of the travellers, 
 but unfortunately, not yet of any botanist. It is chiefly found in the extensive 
 woods near the Omzinvoboo and its river, is described as being seventy feet in 
 height, perfectly straight, when it at once spreads into a canopy of foliage, 
 quite flat, and impervious both to light and rain, the top of a single tree in 
 the dense mass of other kinds appearing from the neighboring heights like a 
 fine grass-plot, and when several are together, like fine lawns. One specimen 
 has been particularly noticed by Messrs. Cowie and Green, as shadowing a 
 circumference of twenty yards in diameter ; the leaves were eleven inches 
 long, and one and a- half broad, and deeply serrated. 
 
 “ The inner range of country is much more free of wood, and consists of 
 large plains, but so swampy as to be travelled over in a direct line with much 
 trouble ; game is abundant, and, since the spoil of the flocks by their con- 
 querors, has mainly supplied them with food, and enabled them to collect 
 
36 
 
 fresh herds from their westerly neighbors by the sale of antelope skins, es- 
 pecially those of the blue-buck, the antelope pygmea, a favourite and costly 
 ornament, used for the head dresses of the Caffer belles.. Laws of great 
 severity, therefore have been enacted, and scrupulously administeied, to pio- 
 tect this now-important branch of trade ; and the various chiefs have 
 respectively assumed a landed proprietorship over several districts, which they 
 either hunt in themselves, or let out at high prices, for determinate peiiods, to 
 parties of native adventurers ; thus creating a novel and lucrative source of 
 wealth to repair their previous numerous losses. 
 
 “ The coast from the Omzimvooboo, or St. John’s river, to the Omtavoomoo, 
 is one continued bed of elevated rocks without one patch of sand ; oysters 
 are most abundant along this whole line, and of the most delicious kind. 
 Most of the rivers and rivulets, with which the country is intersected in- 
 cessantly, precipitate themselves over those rocky ledges into the sea, in 
 numerous and beautiful cataracts, more than one of which are said to have 
 a fall of full three hundred feet. 
 
 “ The Terra de Natal, the next division, commences at the Omtavoomoo 
 river, and is bounded on the east by the Omtangala, or Fisher s river of the 
 Charts. Its superficial contents are about nine thousand square miles. It is 
 a natural division, possessing similar productions, and the same climate, and 
 distinguished from the N.E. country, which is hotter, less healthy, and more 
 arid, and from the south-western, which is cold, damp, and variable. 
 
 “ The chief rivers which water this delightful region are the Umzimcooloo, 
 or Great river, the Omcoomas, (the streams of which fall into Natal bay,) 
 the Omgani, and lastly, the Omtangala. The Omzimcooloo is a large 
 stream, emptying its constantly-replenished reservoir into the ocean in about 
 lat. 30. 30., and long. 30. 25. Its estuary appears to be accessible to 
 shipping ; it has a course of above ninety miles, is full of fish, especially eels, 
 haunted by a number of hippopotami, or sea-cows, and its wooded and 
 picturesque banks are thickly populated by that real monarch of the iorest, 
 the stately elephant. 
 
 “ The Omcomas, or Cow river, is a very fine stream, and open at the 
 mouth ; its first drift, or ford, is about four miles from its estuary, at which 
 place the river is one hundred yards wide, and three feet deep. Like all the 
 other streams along the coast, it is remarkable for the translucency and sweet- 
 ness of its waters. Wdld fruits, of some very fine and large kinds, worthy, it 
 is imagined, to be introduced into our gardens, are said to be abundant in the 
 neighbourhood. Alligators begin to be found here, and a species of the boa 
 is said to infest the woods, 
 
 “The harbor of Natal is situated in lat. 29. 53., and long. 30. 55.; is 
 about three miles in depth, by two and a-half in breadth, containing three 
 small islands easy of access from the shore at low water. The eastern side is 
 a low sandy flat covered with wood, reaching to the margin of the sea, and at 
 high tide presents the singular appearance of an indurated forest. At the 
 head of the bay is a large plain covered with trees, bamboos, and long grass, 
 but swampy near the water. Three small rivers discharge themselves near 
 this plain. The western side is protected by a bluff point of land, covered 
 with bush, which has inside of it fine anchorage, and careening ground. The 
 entrance is about three hundred yards wide at high water, and the depth at 
 this time, twelve feet, which at the equinoctial tides, exceeds fourteen. 
 
 “ The banks of the Omganie river are described as very beautiful, from its 
 romantic rock scenery. It is about one hundred and fifty yards wide one 
 mile and a half from its mouth, which is situate in about 29. 50., and 
 long. 30. 55. It offers every possible advantage as a future settlement for a 
 
 L 
 
I 
 
 
 
 
37 
 
 civilized population, having abundance of limestone, and chalk, fine timber, a 
 rich soil, the most luxuriant pasturage in the world, the capability of irriga- 
 tion, if required, for thousands of acres, and a land-locked harbor within 
 three miles. Bananas grow spontaneously in this highly-favored region. 
 
 “ The serpentine Omtongela, or Fisher’s river of the Charts, (or Tugela,) 
 bounds the rich and delightful district of Natal. It is second only, in size, 
 to the St. Lucia and Maporta rivers, and it rises in a breach of the Ingale, or 
 Snowy mountains, about two hundred and fifty miles from the coast, where it 
 disembogues in about lat. 29. 20., and long. 31. 25., being fed along its 
 lengthened course by innumerable tributaries. Its extreme breadth is from 
 one mile to a mile and a-half, and its ford, six miles from the mouth, is two 
 hundred yards across. A large salt-pan exists near its source, but very 
 difficult of access, and lower down is a warm bath, sufficiently hot at times to 
 boil an egg. 
 
 “ The climate of this division is salubrious throughout the year, suffering 
 no great extremes ; rains generally arrive with the westerly wind, but seldom 
 last more than three or four days together, when the east wind springing up, 
 clear the atmosphere; the east and westerly winds are the most prevailing. 
 
 “ The planting season commences in July, and the country corn continues 
 to ripen from the month of January to that of May, so that there is a con- 
 stant harvest during these months. 
 
 “ The soil coastwise, is generally sandy, but capable of raising most 
 luxuriant crops of millet and maize ; proceeding inland, it assumes a reddish 
 hue and loamy stiffness, changing as it recedes, to a black and deep mould, 
 until at the end of the base of the mountains it becomes gravelly and strong. 
 The country is covered at intervals by forests of considerable extent, but 
 which are difficult to explore, from the impervious nature of the underwood. 
 Trees of large size, are rare about the port itself, although the smaller kinds 
 are most plentiful. At the distance of fifty miles, however, are extensive 
 woods, containing trees of the largest dimensions ; and in the Impensewan, or 
 Ingale mountains, are inexhaustible supplies of ship and other timber, easily 
 transportable to the harbor. 
 
 “ The native inhabitants of this place, are, at present, the wretched and 
 scattered remains of that once populous tribe, described by Captain Woodes 
 Rogers, and other navigators in the seventeenth century, as remarkable for 
 their Arcadian felicity, their innocence of manners, and liumanitj' to strangers. 
 By the ambitious policy of the late Zoolah chieftain, they have dwindled into 
 a small number of fugitives, finding a precarious existence from the indi- 
 genous and wild produce of the field. 
 
 “ Besides these people, there is a considerable number of Europeans from 
 the colony, settled round the port for the purpose of trade ; but of late a want 
 of confidence in the Zoolah ruler, Dingaarn, and of unanimity among them- 
 selves, arising out of a petty and misplaced jealousy of each other’s success, 
 has brought this flourishing settlement into a very low condition, and if not 
 soon supported with the arm of a recognized government, it must be 
 altogether abandoned 
 
 “Does the fabled ‘Lotus’ grow in this portion of Africa, of which, all 
 who have eaten, desire to remain, and all those who have roamed from its 
 feast, pine to return. ? Is there a maladie de pays, a sickness, not of home, 
 but for a foreign land, generated by the atmosphere of this clime, barbarous 
 only as respects its inhabitants ? or, why is it that no one individual, whatever 
 his pursuits, whatever the circumstances which have thrown him upon, or 
 directed his steps to this land, — trade, — science, or misfortunes, — but seems 
 enraptured with the natural beauties of the country ? The wrecked mariner. 
 
38 
 
 even while despairing of returning to his civilized home, has not withheld his 
 meed of praise ; the adventurous trader, searching for his profit thus far from 
 home, has expressed a frequent wish, that this was, ‘ his own, his native 
 land,’ — and the only scientific visitor to these regions, declared a wish to live 
 and die there. There must be, certainly, something extraordinary in a country, 
 to call forth so general a testimony in its favor.” 
 
 The testimony of an American missionary, for thirteen years a resident in 
 the country, shall now be produced : — 
 
 “Sir, Umvoti Mission Station, 1st. Nov. 1848. 
 
 “ Yours of the 31st ult. is before me. In reply to which, 1 may say I 
 arrived at Port Natal as a missionary to the natives in 1835, and with the ex- 
 ception of about two years absence, have remained in the country till now. I 
 have travelled through the coast country, from Port Elizabeth in the old 
 colony, to the Umfalosi river in the Zoola country, and when employed in my 
 calling, have lived near the coast, and have occasionally travelled inland, but 
 am not so well acquainted with the country there, from actual observation. 
 As regards the climate of this country, it being in about 30° south lat., I may 
 say it is warm. Upon the coast I have never seen frost hut twice in thirteen 
 years, though I have heard of it a few times more. At Pietermaritzburg, 
 about fifty miles inland, frost is common in winter, and ice is occasionally 
 seen upon the water in the morning, and upon the mountains in sight from 
 P. M. Burg, thirty or forty miles further inland, snow may sometimes be 
 seen. As to the healthiness of the climate, compared with my native country, 
 America, I think it decidedly preferable. That country when new, as this now 
 is, was very productive of fever and ague, and till now, that disease prevails in 
 the new portions of the country ; and fevers of various kinds, and pulmonary 
 consumption, and dysentery, are yet very common in all parts of that country. 
 The same diseases are known here, but so far as I have seen, they are com- 
 paratively rare ; indeed, the absence of stagnant water, and the sufficiently 
 dry and pure state of the atmosphere, would naturally leave the country in a 
 healthy state in these respects : and if I were asked if any particular disease 
 prevailed here, I should be unable to refer to one. I think 1 have heard our 
 physician. Dr. Adams, say, that perhaps dysentery is more prevalent than any 
 other. I was myself an invalid from pulmonary complaints, when I came to 
 this country; but my health has been improving from the first, until now. 
 Our mission has indeed, a physician, but I am more than fifty miles from him, 
 and we all have no hesitation in locating so far from a doctor as that we could 
 not avail ourselves of his services. - I would not, however, be understood to 
 say that a man in that profession here, is useless. I speak of it to show that 
 the country is comparatively a healthy one. 
 
 “ As to the fertility of the soil of this country, it certainly surpasses by far, 
 that portion of my country, (the United States of America,) called New 
 England, in this respect. Having never seen the country upon the waters of 
 the Missisippi river, I am unable of course, to compare it with that. Wheat 
 will grow in any part of the colony, but is invariably destroyed by the rust on 
 all the coast country ;* it however, does well in the interior part of the 
 colony ; but Indian cqrn, oats, barley, beans, peas, Irish potatoes, sweet 
 
 * Other persons contend that the Victoria and Egyptian wheat will answer well, 
 even on the coast. The Devonshire golden ball wheat appears to be well suited to the 
 soil and climate of the eastern province, and will probably suit even the coast line 
 of Natal. The solid stalk, it is supposed, resists the rust better than the hollow straw ; 
 it is better for thatching. 
 
39 
 
 potatoes, onions, beets, carrots, parsnips, cabbages, turnips, pumpkins, 
 melons, and indeed, all that kind of eatable vegetables which I suppose are 
 grown in the gardens of the United kingdom, flourish here well ; in addition 
 to which, many of the tropical plants and fruits will do well, such as bananas 
 and pine apples. Many of the fruits of temperate and torrid zones grow 
 well here, such as peaches, oranges, lemons, pomegranates, mulberies, &c. 
 Apples do not do well. The same may he said of grapes.* Sugar cane does 
 well. Grass is everywhere so abundant that cattle and other domestic 
 animals live upon it summer and winter. A great part of the country may 
 he subdivided into small farms, each having pasture and tillage ground, wood, 
 water, &c. Some parts have all these facilities. I have spoken thus far as to 
 the capabilities of the soil ; hut in order to convey the whole truth I must say 
 that several obstacles lie in the way of the husbandmen, which often prevent 
 the abundant harvest which he would otherwise realize. The country is 
 overrun with a variety of insects which often injure our crops. Locusts 
 sometimes come upon us in such numbers, as utterly to destroy our entire 
 crops, f Our domestic animals, while they are supplied abundantly summer 
 and winter with grass, and seldom, if ever, require a shelter, are sadly 
 annoyed by several species of what we call bush ticks, J which both extract 
 much of their blood, and produce a poisonous effect upon the blood. For 
 various reasons our animals die here more than in our old countries. This is 
 the case with horses, horned cattle, and sheep. Horses however, seldom die 
 if kept in the stall during the summer months. In some localities not one in 
 ten of the calves can be raised. 
 
 “As to roads, men get about with the ox waggon in the greatest part of 
 the country without any labor in preparing the way, and a small amount of 
 labor would make the roads good. 
 
 “ Natives|| are numerous, and one has no difficulty in getting them into his 
 
 * In my visit, I saw vines at Pietermaritzburg, promising large grapes, and large 
 bunches. — Ed. 
 
 f For five years the colony bad not been visited with locusts to the extent it had 
 been this year, 1848, and yet I was told, (as was the fact,) that vegetation bore no 
 mark of this visit. Others again told me they were not nearly so numerous as in the 
 eastern province. — Ed. 
 
 + When the colony was founded, horses at D ’Urban, frequently, even commonly, 
 died in three months ; now ticks, even thei’e, are becoming scarce, and horses 
 improve there. It will he the same farther up the coast, hut no where are they so bad 
 as they used to he at D'Urban. Before you arrive in Maritzburg they commonly 
 drop off, as they will not live seven miles inland. The natives pick them off their 
 cattle, and we can do the same. It is admitted that horses do not die if stalled; and 
 so it will he found with the calves. The natives build houses for them, and con- 
 sequently lose hut very few. Few persons have sheds, and if abroad, young cattle will 
 eat the grass before the dew has passed off. It is to be observed also that the Zoola 
 cattle are not subject to these complaints, not even the ticks, like the large Africander 
 cattle, brought beyond the Draakberg mountains. The change is too great for them, 
 and after such a long drive they are naturally feverish. The Zoola cattle are smaller, 
 but equally strong with the Africander cattle. As draught cattle, they never die on 
 the road, like the Africanders. In short, the climate suits them. The Zoola cattle aie 
 not naturally small, but are so from the natives being desirous to get milk, and 
 putting them to the bull at two years old. Close to this Umvoti mission establish- 
 ment, I saw hundreds of cattle, in good condition, belonging to the blacks. 
 
 || Not strickly “natives,” but emigrants from the Zoolu Chiefs for our protection. 
 See Lieutenant Farewell’s letter, in which he estimates them at from 300 to 400 souls. 
 Some have been tried as sailors, and have been found particularly active. 
 
40 
 
 employ if he treats them properly- But they are to a great extent untaught 
 in our mode of labor, and are often very fickle in their habits. They seldom 
 give us trouble by stealing; but have no character for integrity or faithfulness 
 further than the eye of their master can reach ; yet if one is with them, he 
 may get a good deal of labor out of them. Their pay is from three to ten 
 shillings per month, with their food. I now speak of the boys and young men. 
 It is with difficulty that the girls can be induced to go to service at all. 
 
 “ If the above remarks shall have any effect in forwarding the cause of Emi- 
 gration, I shall be most happy. The multitudes you speak of in the United 
 Kingdom, who dan barely get a scanty subsistence by constant hard labor, 
 can here live comfortably upon the avails of a small amount of labor. Indeed 
 an industrious laborer economising his money, may in a few years obtain the 
 means of an independent livelihood upon land of his own. 
 
 I remain &c. &c. 
 
 J. S. Christopher, Esq. A. GROUT.* 
 
 The following, written by the Revd. Mr. Archbell, some years ago, will pro- 
 perly appear appended to the above. “The climate of Natal is mild and 
 temperate, with a brilliant atmosphere, and free from those noxious vapours 
 which rise from low swamps and marshy localities. The structure of the 
 country points it out as one particularly favorable to health and longevity, and 
 it is reputed by those who have had a sufficient trial to enable them to give an 
 opinion, that it is free from most of the diseases which so frequently visit some 
 of the neighbouring parts. It is certain that the fatal atmosphere of Delagoa 
 Bay is not felt here. The winters are mild, and the summers not injuriously 
 hot. 
 
 “ Though in its present luxuriant state, the parts near the coast are evidently 
 not suited for sheep, yet they are well adapted for cattle, and the herds of 
 the emigrants answer well. 
 
 “ The open country, approaching the Quathlamba mountains, will be found 
 moderately adapted for sheep, when a sufficient number shall have been intro- 
 duced to keep down the vigorous vegetation. On the whole it is not, perhaps, 
 the country that is unsuited for sheep, so much as the state of the pasturage. 
 
 “ With regard to the horse epidemic, last year’s experience has proved that 
 at Natal, it is not more fatal than any other part where it prevailed. Num- 
 bers died ,- and in some districts none were spared ; but in others the disease 
 was not felt.” 
 
 As yet no mention of the following articles has been made as productions 
 of Natal, by any of the preceding authorities, thinking the country sufficiently 
 deserving of praise without citing them, or not knowing of their growth in 
 the colony. Cotton, indigo, and tobacco, which have been produced; sugar, 
 coffee, flax, and silk, which may be produced. Respecting cotton. Dr. Blaine’s 
 account read before the Manchester and Blackburn Chambers of Commerce, 
 will afford the most satisfactory evidence that can be desired. Since that, 
 however, (March, 1848,) some 200 bales of cotton have been grown, packed, 
 
 * This gentleman was the first to introduce cotton into Natal from America, and 
 distribute the seed to various parties ; so that we have to thank him for this impor- 
 tant article being introduced into Natal. He informed me that he thonght the cotton 
 grounds of America are not so productive as those of Natal. Some statements go so 
 far as to shew that while 450 lbs. per acre is a good crop in America, Natal will produce 
 600 lbs. There is one important advantage possessed either by the soil or atmosphere 
 of Natal, that while in America the cotton plants rarely last three years, in Natal they 
 thrive for five and six, and I have seen some said to be nine years old, in full bearing. 
 
41 
 
 and shipped to England, thereby practically confirming his sanguine expecta- 
 tions. The sale of these by public auction, at Manchester, with the broker’s 
 report thereon, at once stamps the colony as the most promising for enter- 
 prising emigrants and small capitalists, that we possess; and affords a positive 
 relief to the minds of our manufacturers, inasmuch as another resource for 
 their supplies is thus found appended to the empire. England requiring an 
 annual supply of bales, it is of vital importance to the general trade 
 
 of the kingdom, in case of a rupture of our friendly relations with the United 
 States, that the cotton grounds should be worked, and that as quickly as 
 possible. The following statement of the facilities offered by Natal for this 
 national object, is therefore highly satisfactory. 
 
 MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 
 
 Important new Cotton-Growing District . — Port Natal 
 
 An exceedingly interesting interview was held at the Chamber of Commerce,, 
 on Thursday morning, by Mr. Blaine, a gentleman who has been residing at 
 Port Natal for some years, with the Directors of the Chamber, respecting the 
 capabilities of that country for the growth of cotton. The directors present 
 were — T. Bazley, the president; Mr. Lewis Williams, the vice-president;. 
 Mr. J. Owen, Mr. Lucas, Mr. W. R. Callender, Mr. E. Shawcross, Mr. 
 Langworthy, and others; Mr. T. Boothman, the secretary, was also present, 
 and Mr. Blaine’s brother. 
 
 The President, in introducing the business, said i- — I have pleasure in intro- 
 ducing Mr. Blaine, of Port Natal, w'ho had been in that colony four or five 
 years. He has brought with him specimens of cotton grown at Port Natal, 
 which are of the most beautiful description. They appear to be of various 
 classes, some of them adopted to the most coarse and ordinary qualities of our 
 manufactures, whilst another class, and that the most useful, are adapted to 
 the finest and highest qualities of goods we produce. I have not seen more 
 beautiful samples of cotton suitable for the manufactures of Lancashire for 
 some years, and if we could have a sufficient supply, I cannot imagine a more 
 important and valuable boon to this county than Port Natal could confer. 
 (Hear, hear.) 
 
 Mr. Blaine immediately rose and said : — Gentlemen, — Having recently 
 returned, after a few years’ residence, from the British colony of Natal, I have 
 hastily thrown together a few general observations, which I thought would he 
 sufficiently interesting and important to bring under the notice of the Chamber 
 of Commerce. With the aid of the practical illustrations, and the specimens 
 of native productions, I hope to be able to afford to your minds comprehensive 
 and correct ideas of the general aspect and capabilities of a colony which 
 might be brought at once into important relations with the mother country. 
 It is, however, more especially, its eminent adaptation for the production of 
 cotton, which it is capable of affording in incalculable supplies, that I wish to 
 introduce to your notice. 
 
 Before entering, however, on this part of the subject, it will be necessary to 
 give a brief description of the country, as so little is known regarding it to 
 England. 
 
 Natal is situated on the eastern coast of Southern Africa, and extends from 
 the river Tojella, its northern boundry, which separates it from Zoolaland, to 
 the river Um-zam-coola; to the south, which divides it from the territory 
 generally regarded as belonging to the Amaponda chief Faku. Both these 
 rivers rise, by numerous branches, out of the Quathlamba or Drakenberg 
 
 F 
 
42 
 
 mountains, which form the well-defined western boundary, separating it from 
 the Basutu tribes. On the east, its shores are washed by the waters of the 
 Indian Ocean. 
 
 Natal was not formally declared a British possession until the year 1843. 
 For many years previous, the English Government had seemed, more by occa- 
 sional interference and general neglect, than by official document, to have 
 alternately rejected and acknowledged the claims of Natal to be considered as 
 belonging to it. The result (i.e., British possession) was ultimately brought 
 about, by the migration of disaffected Dutch Boers from the contiguous Cape 
 colony, who, wandering eastward to a country to settle in, were attracted by 
 the remarkable fertility and beauty of Natal, where they attempted to esta- 
 blish an independent republic. 
 
 Upon this, their allegiance to the British Government was reclaimed ; and 
 a military expedition sent out to reduce them to obedience. Subsequently, 
 an organized Government was formed, and the occupants of land confirmed 
 in their possessions, on certain conditions. A spirit of disaffection continued, 
 however, to prevail among the Dutch settlers, who quitted the country in 
 numerous bodies, after disposing of their farms, thus foolishly relinquishing 
 their interest in a valuable soil, which it is hoped future occupants will turn to 
 a much better account. Many of these misguided people have moved in a 
 N.E. direction, nearly to the latitude of Delagoa Bay; many have perished in 
 the wilderness; and hundreds are living beyond the reach of civilizing influ- 
 ences, in a state of wretched barbarism, subsisting on the produce of their 
 guns, and clothing themselves in the skins of beasts, whilst others have sold 
 their lands and returned to the old colony. This melancholy condition ol a 
 whole people must, in a great measure, be attributed to the ruling power 
 acting in ignorance of the peculiar social condition of the people, and the cir- 
 cumstances of the country. 
 
 At the present time, the country is almost depopulated of white inhabitants, 
 the majority being collected in the two towns — a few enterprising men, chiefly 
 of British origin, were settled on lands in their neighbourhood, and are 
 zealously engaged in attempting to develope the resources of their adopted 
 country. Extensive tracts of valuable land remain unoccupied, and are open 
 for purchase either from the local government, or from original grantees. 
 Having given you a very slight and imperfect sketch of the present political 
 and social condition of Natal, I would proceed to say a few words on the 
 natural features, the climate, the natural productions, the properties of the 
 soil, and the probable capabilities of this country. 
 
 Having travelled overland, and passed five months in the country between 
 Graham's Town and Natal, I am enabled to corroborate the testimony of pre- 
 vious travellers, in stating that on approaching Natal, the country exhibits a 
 gradually increasing beauty and fertility, and that its natural capabilities far 
 surpass those of any other portion of Southern Africa. The natural scenery 
 exhibits great variety of feature. Near the east it is often of a broken cha- 
 racter, consisting of hill and dale, diversified occasionally by deep ravines, 
 affording perpetual streams of water, and the steep sides of which are clothed 
 with the mimosa and other trees. 
 
 On approaching the Quathlamba mountains, a gradual ascent of successive 
 undulations is seen, which, although destitute of trees, from the practice the 
 natives adopt of annually firing the grass, offers admirable pasture for cattle 
 and extensive lands suitable for general agricultural purposes. Extensive flats, 
 laying low, and studded with clumps of pine trees, mark the course of the 
 larger ravines. With little labour these districts could be put under water, 
 and are well adapted for the cultivation of rice. In the close highly-finished 
 
43 
 
 miniature scenery which adorns many parts of the country, the English tra- 
 veller will recognize features bearing a resemblance to that picturesque county, 
 Derbyshire. 
 
 Throughout the whole extent, Natal is traversed by several noble rivers, 
 branching off into innumerable streams; and it is thus eminently distinguished 
 from the more southern and western portions of the continent, where the 
 supply of water is very precarious. The larger rivers, taking their course 
 along the base of well-wooded, grassy hills, have a gradual descent, and 
 throughout the year present a strong and clear stream. The highest lands 
 afford abundance of water; as the traveller proceeds along these elevated 
 grassy tracts of country, he very frequently passes along the borders of a sort 
 of natural well, from three to eight feet in depth, through the bottom of which 
 a vigorous stream of water is passing, in a subterraneous channel, down the 
 hill sides to the valley below. 
 
 The climate of Natal, though generally warm, is highly salubrious, and 
 throughout a greater portion of the year, is really delicious; the sky being 
 brilliantly clear, the temperature mild, and refreshing rains frequent. Being 
 within the range of the trade winds, the climate is uniform, not fluctuating 
 and uncertain, like the more southern and western parts of the continent. 
 From observation, the extreme range of the thermometer in the shade during 
 1844, was found to be 41 degrees, viz, from 47, in July, to 88, in January. 
 The rainy season begins in the first week in September, and ends in March; 
 comprising the summer months of the year. During this interval, thunder 
 storms are almost of daily occurrence. 
 
 In May, June, and July, cool winds prevail, accompanied by occasional 
 showers. Hot winds are very rare; this happy exemption from one of the 
 chief scourges of warm climates probably arises from the circumstances of the 
 Guathlamba summits, affording a cooling medium for all winds blowing from 
 the interior. 
 
 Though Natal presents, in many parts, the physical character of a country 
 likely to produce fever, dysentery, and other diseases of a tropical climate. I 
 can say, from extended observation and experience, that it enjoys a singular 
 immunity from disease of any kind. During four years residence I witnessed 
 but two cases of fever, both occurring after extreme exhaustion and protracted 
 dissipation. Occasional cases of dysentery and diseases of the heart are met 
 with, but these can, in most instances, be attributed to extreme indulgence in 
 spirituous drinks. 
 
 The country is still the abode of numerous kinds of wild animals, for civi- 
 lized man has not yet held sway long enough in these regions to exterminate 
 them. Among the most remarkable is the buffalo, the hippopotamus, the leo- 
 pard, the hyaena, the eland, alligator, boa constrictor, and elephant. There is 
 also plenty of minor game, several varieties of the antelope, partridges, quails, 
 &c. Although much attention has not yet been paid to the cultivation of 
 fruits, yet it has been ascertained that the banana, fig, orange, lemon, pome- 
 granate, and grape, as well as most European fruits, can be plentifully pro- 
 duced. The natives cultivate large quantities of Indian corn, pumpkins, 
 millet seed, sweet reed, sweet potatoes, &c. 
 
 Coal of good quality has been obtained in the neighbourhood of P. M. 
 Burg, it is procurable near the surface in various parts of the colony; and 
 many kinds of hard and fine grained woods are found in the country. The soils 
 exist in great variety ; strong red and black clay, light sandy soil, and black 
 mossy loam are found, all of good quality and in great depth. The soil is 
 generally very rich, probably in consequence of the vegetation being left foy 
 
ages to decompose on its surface— it will produce many successive crops, 
 without the application of manure being necessary. 
 
 The town of Pietermaritzburg is situated about fifty miles from the Bay of 
 Natal, in a north-westerly direction. There are now about a hundred and 
 fifty houses, many being built of a peculiar kind of stone, which is easily 
 wrought, and hardens by exposure to the air. There is a well-built church, a 
 town hall, and a prison. Extensive barracks have also been built, and are 
 now occupied by her Majesty’s troops. 
 
 The town of D’Urban, or Port Natal, is inhabited chiefly by the English, 
 and contains about sixty houses, the majority being of temporary construction. 
 Skirting the shores of the bay, and backed by an umbrageous wood, it 
 presents a picturesque and cheerful appearance. The supply of water at 
 present is rather scanty, but this defect could easily he remedied, by turning 
 the waters of the Umgani river across the fiat, when a copious and unfailing 
 supply would be obtained. The Bay of Natal is of considerable extent, 
 being about ten miles in circumference; it contains two or three islands 
 covered with mangrove trees, and is traversed by three deep channels, suffi- 
 ciently capacious for the anchorage of a hundred sail, and it is completely 
 landlocked. The depth of water at the ordinary anchorage is twenty feet, so 
 that vessels can lie alongside the beach and discharge their cargoes, llie 
 entrance to the bay is partially obstructed by a sand bar, which is about a 
 hundred and twenty feet across; the breadth of the channel, on the har, is 
 about a hundred and fifty yards. Its depth varies a good deal, at different 
 periods of the year, — in the rainy season, there is twenty-five feet; in the diy, 
 but twelve feet of water: this great difference is supposed to be owing to the 
 additional volume of water which is poured into the bay from three small 
 rivers, which open into it near its head. To the north and south of the 
 harbour of Natal, there are two large rivers, each between three and four 
 miles distant. Each of these disgorges a volume of water perpetually into 
 the sea, fully equivalent to that discharged by the three rivulets at the head of 
 the bay, when swollen during the rainy season. These rivers, the Umgani 
 and the Umlazi, could with comparatively little labour (as the intervening 
 country is quite level) be turned into the bay, and would, combined, produce 
 a force and volume of water sufficient to clear away all obstruction, and open 
 a deep and permanent channel for vessels of large tonnage. Ships ol from 
 two to three hundred tons have, in its present state, made their exit and 
 entrance with safety, but it is not just now considered prudent for any vessel 
 drawing more than twelve feet to attempt the channel. 
 
 There is, however, good anchorage outside, with a sandy bottom, which 
 affords good holding ground. The prevailing winds are the N.E. and S.W., 
 and as it very rarely blows from any other quarter, ships may clear the land 
 at any time, without making a tack. With good surl-boats, cargo can 
 be landed outside the bay, on the sea beach, with as little delay as in Algoa 
 Bay. The attention of the settlers was at first directed to the cultivation of 
 cotton, by obtaining the spontaneous growth of the native plant, scattered 
 over the face of the country, as well as a general tendency in many indigenous 
 plants, to produce a material of a cotton texture. The first seeds were 
 imported from America, and sown in the garden of a mission station ; for 
 several years, these plants manifested the capabilities of the soil and climate 
 for the production of cotton, to exist in a remarkable degree. The plant was 
 found to be perennial, to acquire a gradual increase of growth, until it attained 
 a height of from six to ten feet, and to spread over a large surface of ground ; 
 it produced throughout the year, winter and summer very abundantly; the 
 quality of the cotton seeming rather to improve than deteriorate, and the 
 
45 
 
 quantity rather to increase than lessen, with each additional year. This 
 manifestation of the country’s adaptation for the production of a valuable arti- 
 cle of commerce, had no influence in rousing the indolent and unenterprising 
 mind of the Dutch Boer ; it was not until the appropriation of the country by 
 the British, that a few spirited young men, by more extended experiment on 
 various soils, and in different localities, fully established the claim of Natal to 
 be considered one of the finest cotten countries under the sun. Seeds have 
 been procured from the East Indies, Egypt, Brazil, China, and America ; the 
 first crops from the several kinds sown on lands in a comparatively foul and 
 unprepared state, have produced a quality of cotton, not inferior in nature to 
 that gathered in the several countries whence they have been brought. The 
 American variety is, however, most commonly cultivated; and it has been as- 
 certained that the plant furnishes cotton at Natal, superior to the American in 
 all the characteristics that constitute commercial value ; a fact established by 
 the price obtained for a few bales sent over to this country. I need not dilate 
 on this subject, as I presume the samples submitted to your inspection, which 
 were hurriedly gathered from the nearest sources, the day before I left the 
 country, will corroborate my statements. 
 
 Owing to the limited number of Europeans, and the many obstacles arising 
 from inexperience, want of suitable implements, deficiency of capital, and con- 
 sequent difficulty of commanding labour, for the proper and extended cultiva- 
 tion of the soil, cotton has not yet been produced in a quantity sufficiently 
 large to establish for itself a character in the English market ; nevertheless, 
 the results have been sufficiently decisive to establish the capability of Natal for 
 the profitable cultivation of this article to such an extent as would render it 
 an important feature in colonial commerce. Perhaps in no British colony do 
 the elements for cheap production, i e. cheap land, cheap labour, and cheap 
 food, exist in a greater degree than Natal. Tracts of land, six thousand acres 
 in extent, capable of being transfered into cotton plantations, were changing 
 hands six months ago for from £150 to £400. Lands adjacent to the Port of 
 Natal, reached a higher price, and were sold at the government sales from 4s. 
 to 7s. per acre. It is computed that there are 100,000 native inhabitants 
 scattered over the country ; they are now simple and harmless barbarians, who 
 might be trained by a vigorous and enlightened exercise of authority, into ha- 
 bits of industry and peace. Like all barbarians, they are constitutionally indo- 
 lent and adverse to labour ; but under the personal superintendence of the 
 white man, they are found useful and willing workmen, fully capable for all the 
 labours of the field, not requiring any extraordinary exercise of skill. Women 
 and children are found well adapted for the lighter work of the cotton planta- 
 tion. The rate of wages at present is very low, 4s. per month, or a cow 
 which costs from £2 to £2 10s., is considered an equivalent for a year’s 
 service. 
 
 The native labourers subsist chiefly on Indian corn, with an ocasional allow- 
 ance of beef. The price of Indian corn, is from Is. to Is. 6d. per bushel; of 
 beef, from Id. tc l-§d. per lb. A Natal Cotton Company has been formed this 
 last year, of shareholders, in Natal and the Cape, for the purpose of introducing 
 one hundred German families; it has been fully organized, and agents are now 
 in Germany selecting suitable emigrants for emigration ; but this project is by 
 no means commensurate with the actual resourses of the colony. It has also 
 been discovered that Natal is well adapted for the production of indigo. The 
 indigo plant is indigenous, and is found scattered like a weed over the coun- 
 try ; it is said there are no less than ten different varieties of this plant to be 
 met with there. I have to submit to you a small specimen of this article, 
 which has been extracted by a rude process from a native plant ; it has been 
 
46 
 
 pronounced by good authority, to be of superior quality ; this opinion, if 
 corroborated, will give an additional value to the country in the estimation of 
 the commercial world. 
 
 The sugar cane has been introduced, and it may now be seen growing lux- 
 uriantly in" various parts of the colony. Several hundred of those plants have 
 been imported from the Mauritius, and are now thriving very encouragingly. 
 Should further experience prove that indigo and sugar can be produced in 
 Natal, as well as cotton, it will soon acquire an important standing among our 
 colonies ; and when it is considered that the whole range of country from the 
 Bashee to the St. Lucia, embracing a line of coast 300 miles in extent, affords 
 equal capabilities, and may eventually be accessible to British enterprise, skill, 
 and capital, this part of the world will be regarded as one of our most valuable 
 transmarine possessions. 
 
 Mr. Blaine, observed, in the course of his address, that he had brought a 
 specimen to England of Port Natal coal, but unfortunately it had not come 
 from London. 
 
 The President said, on behalf of Mr. Blaine, he had now to lay before the 
 Board, his samples of cotton, and the first was a specimen grown from Bombay 
 seed ; the quality was first rate, and worth full 50 per cent, more than the 
 cotton of Bombay. — Mr. Owen thought that it was short in staple. — The 
 President said it was true it was short in staple, but it was even, and very 
 superior to that grown in Bombay. — The next was a specimen of cotton grown 
 from Brazils seed : the quality seemed to be very much depreciated indeed — it 
 was clean but common. Then there was a specimen grown from the green 
 seed of America. —-Mr. Boothman said he believed the green seed was a Mex- 
 ican kind. — The Vice-President, (Mr. Lewis Williams,) asked if they had 
 subjected the specimens to any process, to give them the beautiful white, clean 
 appearance, they possessed ; had they had machinery for cleaning it ? — Mr. 
 Blaine replied that they had no machinery in the country ; the cotton had been 
 gathered by hand. — The President said, the next sample he would hand to 
 the board, was a specimen of Nankin cotton^ or rather grown from Nankin 
 seed ; but the most gratifying specimen they had was a sample of cotton in 
 common cultivation at Natal — it appeared to be of the Egyptian class. — Mr. 
 E. Shawcress inquired, if this was cotton indiginous to Natal. — Mr. Blaine 
 replied that it was not, but had been grown from seed imported about four 
 years ago, and which was probably Egyptian. — The Vice-President, (who is 
 a gentleman well qualified to judge of the value of cotton, seemed to examine 
 this specimen with great interest,) said, that if we could get such cotton as 
 this transmitted, we could find a market for any quantity. — The President said, 
 the next question was one of the same description of cotton, but grown from 
 different seeds : it showed that the soil of Natal possessed great capability ; 
 the cotton wss superior and of a very bony fibre. — The next specimen he had 
 to present, was one supposed to be grown from Sea Island seed ; it was 
 marked, — “ Supposed to be grown from Pitt’s Island seed.” — It was a beau- 
 tiful cotton, and worth at market, he should say, 9d. or lOd. per lb. — The 
 Vice-President said this was of a beautiful quality, and very equal in staple. — 
 Other directors of the Chamber seemed also to entertain a high opinion of the 
 cotton. — The President said, the next was another specimen in common cul- 
 tivation at Port Natal, and was very beautiful, the value of which could not 
 be less than Is. per lb. — Mr. Owen asked, what seed was this from. — Mr, 
 Blaine said the seed came from America. — The President thought from its 
 appearance, it was from Sea Islands seed. — The Vice-President remarked that 
 it was of a more uniform staple even than the other, and was certainly a very 
 beautiful and superior article.— The President thought so, and the staple 
 
47 
 
 drew out so beautifully clear, — it was also clean; he had never seen cotton so 
 clean before. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Owen here opened and stretched the sample with his fingers, 
 so as to show its staple more thoroughly, and it appeared to be long in fibre, 
 white, and exceedingly adhesive, — combining with these qualities that of the 
 bright, clear, glossy appearance, of the gossamer almost. The President also 
 exhibited a specimen of Indigo, which was said to be worth from 3s. 4d. to 3s. 
 6d. per lb; — The President said, Mr. Blaine had fully shown the capacity of 
 Port Natal to grow beautiful cotton for us, and that there was also great ca- 
 pacity in the mineral and agricultural products of the country, for commercial 
 purposes. 
 
 In answer to questions, Mr. Blaine stated that the colony had not a great 
 trade with this country. Probably they had 14 or 15 arrivals of British vessels 
 in the course of the year. The natives were tractable but indolent, and emi- 
 gration would be necessary. There was now probably about 400 acres under 
 cotton cultivation ; they had no manufactories there. Only some three or 
 four bags of cotton had ever been sent to the Liverpool market for sale. Their 
 chief exports were to Cape Town and the Mauritius, the articles of export 
 being sheep’s wool, butter, ivory, and gum. Wheat was grown there by the 
 boers, chiefly for their own consumption. With respect to the distance of the 
 cotton-growing district from the sea, he said the cotton produced had been 
 gathered round the bay. The district most suitable extends about 120 miles 
 along the coast, and also about the same number of miles in depth, towards 
 the interior. Their present means of transport, were by waggons drawn by 
 oxen. The roads w'ere only natural ones, but tolerably good. The natives 
 brought their sheep’s wool, now worth about 13d. or 14d. per lb., to market 
 by that means, a distance of 3 and 400 miles. He was not acquainted with 
 the course of the rivers, but believed them to be shallow. The climate was 
 favourable to European constitutions, and under the white man’s guidance 
 the natives would work profitably. The entrance to the Bay was good, and 
 vessels could pass the bar drawing twelve feet water, and in the rainy season, 
 had done it with sixteen feet draft. They might anchor within a quarter of a 
 mile of the shore. He was not prepared with any plan to recommend to the 
 board, beyond that of encouraging emigration, but should probably give that 
 subject further consideration. He had not been in communication with the 
 Colonial Office. The colony had a lieutenant governor, and about three hun- 
 dred troops were stationed there.' Indian wheat, both white and yellow, was 
 grown, but the natives prefered the yellow as sweeter than the other. The 
 estimate per head for emigration, would probably be about <£10 or £12. Mr. 
 W. Ft. Calender suggested that it would be well to have a specific plan for 
 consideration. The President said most likely Mr. Blaine would put himself 
 in communication with Earl Grey. After an animated conversation, the Pre- 
 sident said he begged to thank Mr. Blaine on behalf of the Chamber, for his 
 interesting communications, which should receive the attention of the Board, 
 who would no doubt be willing to do everything that could be done to test 
 the capabilities of Natal, as a cotton growing district. — The interview was 
 then brought to a close, the President announcing that specimens of the cotton 
 produced would remain at the Chamber for the examination of members and 
 friends. 
 
 Such is the ample statement respecting the colony made by Dr. Blaine, now 
 in England. About the same time that it was made, the following appeared 
 in the ‘Manchester Guardian ,’ written by one of the partners in the German 
 Natal Cotton Company. I give it for the reader to exercise his judgment 
 
48 
 
 thereon. The result is great, and could it be foreseen that no casualties 
 would take place, it would not he too much to expect. According however, 
 to the letter of the Rev. Mr. Grout, he has seen frost in the country twice in 
 thirteen years. True, that is not often, but if severe, (which however, it never 
 is,) it might affect the plants, and thus the result of each year of frost might 
 be reduced. In America also they have frost, and therewith a diminution of 
 crop. Nevertheless, no doubt, with the present price of land, it must be a 
 highly profitable investment for money, combined with industry and close 
 attention. For casualities, frost, neglect of labourers, and the cotton perhaps, 
 gathered and packed in a wet condition, we take off one third, we should yet 
 offer great results to cotton planting at Natal ; £2590, less Ik there would 
 remain £1727. 
 
 COTTON CULTIVATION AT PORT NATAL. 
 
 To the Editor of the Manchester Guardian. 
 
 Sir, — l n consequence of my statement on cotton cultivation at Port Natal, 
 before the Chamber of Commerce, published in the “ Manchester Guardian ” 
 of the 26th February, I have received a quantity of letters, which I am sorry 
 I cannot answer, on account of my embarkation for the Cape of Good Hope. 
 I therefore profit of the columns of the “ Manchester Guardian,” to answer 
 the principal questions put to me, and inform, at the same time, the writers 
 that I shall be most happy to give all possible information, if they will direct 
 their letters to me to Cape-Town, Cape of Good Hope. 
 
 Answers. — 
 
 1st. The vessel carrying my emigrants has sailed some months ago, and I 
 am not engaging any more at present. 
 
 2nd. It is my opinion that good managers would find employment at 
 
 Port Natal. 
 
 3rd. To correct an error in the report of the Manchester Guardian, I 
 repeat more distinctly the calculation I intended to give : — 
 
 Suppose a family of five persons is to go out with a capital of - £400 
 
 They will have to spend — 
 
 For passage, £*20 a-head - - - - - - £100 
 
 For 200 acres of land, at 6s. - - - - - 60 
 
 For eight, oxen, at £3 per piece - - 24 
 
 For temporary house, and necessary working implements 30 
 
 Together £214 
 
 Which would still leave for their living, and payment of wages and other 
 expenses, the handsome sum of- - - - - - £186 
 
 Suppose they cultivate in the first year — 
 
 50 acres of land, which would produce (as proved already at Port Natal) 
 per acre 6001b of clean cotton, the value of which is 6d. per lb. at Port 
 Natal ; but taking it only at 4001b of clean cotton per acre, and at 
 3d. per lb., in order to be on the safe side, the 50 acres would produce 
 20,0001b., at 3d. per lb. - £250 
 
 The second year, 100 acres might be cultivated, and 
 
 would produce ------- 500 
 
 The third year, 150 ditto, - -- -- - 750 
 
 The fourth year, 200 ditto, ------ 1000 
 
 The fifth year, 200 ditto, ------ 1000 
 
 The gross production of five years would be - - £3500 
 
From this amount the following expenses are to be deducted : — • 
 
 The first year. — Wages for 10 Kafirs, at £3 10s. ^ annum £35 
 Ginning, and other little expenses - - - 30 
 
 £65 
 
 £70 
 
 60 
 
 130 
 
 £105 
 
 90 
 
 195 
 
 The second year. — Wages for 20 Kafirs - 
 Ginning, and other little expenses - 
 
 The third year. — Wages for 30 Kafirs - 
 Ginning and expenses ------ 
 
 The fourth year. — Wages for 40 Kafirs - 
 Ginning and expenses ------ 
 
 The fifth year — same as fourth year ... 
 
 £910 
 
 Which leaves a net profit for the five years of - - £2590 
 
 Besides a plantation of 200 acres, (and not, as stated in the Guardian, of 10 
 acres,) their own and free property. 
 
 - £140 
 
 - 120 
 
 260 
 
 260 
 
 London, 6th March, 1848. 
 
 T. BERGTHEIL. 
 
 Another Statement. 
 
 Cotton. — A correspondent of the Cape Town “Advertiser” gives the 
 following result of the cultivation of 29 acres of cotton grown, within three 
 miles of D’Urban, Port Natal, on the banks of the river Umgeni. The plant, 
 it is stated, is now in its fourth crop, and being perennial, no charge for 
 ploughing has been incurred since 1845. 
 
 The 29 acres have this year yielded 8,9251bs. of clean or ginned cotton, 
 being at the rate of 307 lbs. per acre, and that which I have shipped to 
 England during the last three years has netted on the average 5d. ^ lb. 
 
 The expenses from 1st August, 1847, to 31st July, 1848, were : — 
 
 Kafir Wages - 
 
 - £37 
 
 16 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 Rugs for Kafirs 
 
 3 
 
 14 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 50§ Muids Maize, ditto 
 
 10 
 
 19 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Meat for ditto - 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 £55 
 
 16 
 
 7 
 
 Bagging - 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 12 Spades, &c. 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 18 
 
 3 
 
 £64 14 10 
 
 which brings the cost of production, exclusively of first outlay for cost of 
 land, ploughing, & c., to Id. 13-16ths. 
 
 At 4-|d, per lb. on the spot, the value of S9251bs. would be £167 8 0. 
 
 Enough has been said respecting the results of cotton farming exclusively, 
 but it had better be taken up gradually by poor folks. It is all very well for 
 companies and wealthy men, and let them devote themselves extensively to it : 
 but the poor man wants to feed his children. — Let him first get bread enough, 
 and to spare, out of the land, and then being secure in obtaining the neces- 
 saries, let him gradually aspire to get a good cotton plantation, if he finds it 
 most profitable. It is a national object to obtain cotton from our own colonies. 
 
50 
 
 for the sake of the cotton manufacturers, who would be ruined if we had & 
 long war with America ; but the first object of the emigrant is to think of 
 himself and his family. 
 
 The emigrants farming should never be exclusively of one article. Instead 
 of laying out all or half in cotton let him have four or five acres only in each 
 kind of produce, — say 
 
 5 acres in cotton, that will produce 4001bs. of cotton 
 
 per acre, and at 3d. per lb., that will amount to - £25 
 
 5 acres Indian corn will produce 20 muids per acre, 
 
 100 muids at 2s. per muid ----- 10 
 
 5 acres wheat producing 10 muids per acre, — 
 
 50 muids, at 10s. per muid ----- 25 
 
 4 acres barley, will produce 10 muids per acre, — 
 
 40 muids at 5s. per muid ----- 10 
 
 4 acres beans will produce from £25 to - - 10 
 
 2 acres of garden ground for potatoes, and pump- 
 kins &c., &c. - -- -- -- - 
 
 25 acres and 50 acres pasturage, — producing, per annum £80 
 
 A great deal of land will produce all these articles, but sometimes it may 
 be more favorable for one than another, the result may be nevertheless about 
 the same. The advantage of farming in this way will be to prevent his being 
 so overwhelmed with work. And supposing a drought to take place, it may 
 not injure all the crops. This style of farming it more suited to an English- 
 man’s habits, and there will be more equal labor for himself, wife, and 
 children, throughout the year. Moreover, if the market for one should be 
 low, another may make up for it. The produce per acre of all the above is 
 not overstated, on the contrary ; and as to Indian corn, and beans, very much 
 under probabilities. Such farming will enable many pigs to be fattened. 
 
 COTTON PLANTING. 
 
 The German Settlement in Natal. 
 
 ( Abridged from the Natal Witness of December 15, 1848.) 
 
 The house of Messrs. Jung and Co. was established here about four years 
 ago. Like all new comers, the members of the firm became rather extensive 
 landed proprietors. Among other farms, that formerly the property of 
 Mr. E. Morewood fell into their hands, which included 6000 acres, purchased 
 for £600. This property is about six or eight miles from the port. Through 
 the publication of Mr. Wilson’s letters on Cotton Planting, attention was 
 attracted to this branch of agriculture, and the farm in question was deemed 
 suitable for an experiment. Mr. Bergtheil succeeded in engaging an intelli- 
 gent Englishmen, Mr. Brooker, to superintend this estate, and, together with 
 a few of his German friends risked the importation of seed and the necessary 
 machinery for cleaning and packing cotton. About this time a few additional 
 hands were engaged, and among them, a Mr. Davidson, who, having an ex- 
 cellent command of the plough, soon laid a very considerable extent of land 
 under cultivation, and put in a large quantity of the best Sea Island Cotton 
 Seed. In 1847 the prospect of success became so bright, that the company 
 purchased the adjoining farm of 6,000 acres, for what was then considered the 
 enormous sum of £1,500, In 1848, by the exchange of 6,000 acres of land 
 
51 
 
 with government for 3,200 adjoining the estate, the entire extent at the 
 company’s disposal was increased to about 15,500. Thus sacrificing 2,800 
 acres in favor of the government, for the important object of having the whole 
 settlement under easy supervision. 
 
 The tract of country now included in the settlement, is beautifully studded 
 with bush in the kloofs, whence supplies of fuel, and building and fencing 
 poles, are procurable in abundance. The estate is a series of undulations, 
 and in the valleys, at convenient distances, water appears to favor the plan 
 adopted of placing a homestead on almost every 150 or 200 acres of the 
 property. The distance from the sea-port town of D’Urban, is between 
 eight to fifteen miles at the extremity, and from Pietermaritzburg, the me- 
 tropolis of the colony, between thirty- five and forty. No river or mountain 
 interrupts the communication with the former, and only the small town river, 
 during unusually heavy rains, prevents intercourse now and then, but seldom, 
 with the latter. And even this impediment will be shortly removed, as the 
 municipal commissioners are making arrangements for re-building the bridge 
 across the stream referred to. 
 
 The fertility of the soil appears in the rich abundance of grass, and the 
 rapidity with which vegetation in the gardens has proceeded during the few 
 months since the emigrants have been settled It is generally reported that 
 cattle do not thrive in this vicinity ; but we saw nothing to confirm this 
 opinion ; on the contrary, we learn that no loss of this kind has been sus- 
 tained. The oxen in the ploughs, and cows grazing round the cottages, ap- 
 peared in good condition and health. The more the grass is kept down by 
 herds, the sweeter and more wholesome it is supposed to become. Horses 
 thrive, but sheep have never been tried, and the country in its present wild 
 state is probably not well adapted for rearing flocks, or the Boers would have 
 used it for that purpose. 
 
 Besides the numerous streams already referred to, the Umganie passes one 
 part of the estate ; and although no attempts have as yet been made to turn 
 it to account as a facility for transport, the time may come when the amount 
 of exports will demand an investigation as to the practicability of converting 
 this river into a valuable canal. 
 
 With a fertile tract of country covering, as we have said, upwards of 
 15,000 acres of land, which nature had not only eminently adapted for 
 agricultural purposes, but as it were multiplied in quantity by incessant gentle 
 undulations, it occurred to Mr. Bergtheil that a plan might be devised, by the 
 introduction of emigrants from his own country, of turning the property to 
 good account in every way, instead of allowing it to be idle, as nearly all the 
 remainder of the colony is at this date. The execution of this plan involved 
 considerable risk and outlay, to say nothing of difficulties, which are often 
 greater in prospective uncertainty than in present reality. 
 
 It was natural to expect that an extensive experiment, made by untried 
 hands in an untried country, should meet with extraordinary defeats. On':the 
 establishment alluded to as being under the controul of Mr. Brooker, — called 
 “ Westville,” after the present governor, — it was found that the seed imported 
 from America had been injured by the voyage ; besides which, the disappoint- 
 ment thus occasioned, was aggravated, by his finding that what actually did 
 grow, had been so carelessly mixed in the packing, that the trees had all to be 
 taken up and burned to make room for a superior description. Another diffi- 
 culty presented itself, also, at the commencement, in the absence of mechanics 
 capable of fitting up the machinery. The gin now in operation cleans about 
 6001bs. per diem, and it is calculated that this quantity might be more than 
 doubled with the same motive power. Horses are at present used : but when 
 
52 
 
 the extensive fields now in process of cultivation shall have yielded their 
 harvests, water, wind, or steam will be required to feed the machinery and 
 supersede animal motion. 
 
 The first risk and outlay having been ventured in the early part of 1847, 
 Mr. Bergtheil suggested the formation of the Natal Cotton Company, of 
 whose probable success, management, or progress we shall not now stop to 
 speak. He then proceeded to Germany, for the purpose of obtaining suitable 
 emigrants for carrying out his plans. Here his principal difficulty was — not 
 any unwillingness on the part of the laboring classes to leave their homes, — 
 but the perfect ignorance that prevailed respecting the country to which it 
 was proposed to take them, and the prejudices and fears engendered by that 
 ignorance. With the assistance, however, of Ernst Suffert, Esq., of Bremen, 
 who is interested in the establishment, Mr. Bergtheil succeeded in obtaining 
 thirty-five families, including two hundred children and adults. The persons 
 engaged were country mechanics and agriculturists. No unmarried persons 
 were taken, except mepibers of the families. This point was very judiciously 
 insisted on, as it was considered unnatural to expect unmarried men, without 
 the comforts of home, or ties of kindred about them, to settle down con- 
 tentedly in a foreign land. The absurdity of an opposite course was too 
 obvious to be overlooked in a scheme so well devised as that we are now 
 tracing, but is nevertheless being unsanely acted upon by others. 
 
 With a view of diffusing information respecting this colony, Mr. Bergtheil, 
 having failed in procuring a sketch of the country and its capabilities, pub- 
 lished a pamphlet composed of extracts of articles, letters, and government 
 notices from this paper, together with a small map ; kindly furnished by 
 Dr. Stanger, the Surveyor General. 
 
 As the expense and practicability of plans for engaging and satisfying 
 suitable emigrants, are matters of interminable controversy and speculation, it 
 may be as well to state the terms proposed to the German families brought 
 out by Mr. Bergtheil. To ensure a fair understanding, “Deeds of Con- 
 veyance,” — as the agreements are styled, — were printed in the English and 
 German languages, and the contracting parties appeared before S. B. Pearkes, 
 Esq., Her Britannie Majesty’s Vice-Consul at Bremen, for the purpose of 
 affixing their signatures. On the arrival of the emigrants at Natal, the deeds 
 were re-signed in the presence of John R. Scott, Esq., Acting Resident 
 Magistrate of D’Urban. 
 
 The preliminaries having been so far settled to the satisfaction of all parties, 
 the Bertha was chartered for the conveyance of the emigrants, who left 
 Bremen haven on the 19th of November, 1847. 
 
 On landing, W. Harding, Esq., (Resident Magistrate,) attended from 
 Pietermaritzburg, at the disembarkation; and the emigrants re-signed their 
 engagements. 
 
 Here, then, were about two hundred souls to be housed, fed, and, — what 
 is far more difficult,' — comforted and satisfied under the recollections of home, 
 and the gloomy aspect which uncertainty, and an ignorance or misapprehen- 
 sion of the character of their new residence, were calculated to impart. 
 
 Unfortunately, Mr. Bergtheil, who was the main-spring in the whole ma- 
 chinery, depended upon his friend, resident at Natal, for making the necessary 
 arrangements for the location of the families, and had neglected to be present 
 at this particular juncture. Hearing, however, on reaching Cape Town from 
 Europe, very unfavourable reports as to the conduct of some of the emigrants 
 during the voyage, Mr. B. proceeded forthwith to superintend personally the 
 working out of his plan. 
 
 On his arrival, he found everything at a stand still; and the people living, 
 
53 
 
 of course, at considerable expense, and what was far worse, and very danger- 
 ous to the undertaking, — in a state of comparative idleness ; as, — not having 
 been placed on their respective allotments, or properly supplied with draught 
 cattle, the purchase of which had been injudiciously neglected previously to 
 their coming, — their agricultural operations were delayed, and a season almost, 
 if not quite lost. These are the disappointments that had to be encountered 
 by the enterprising projector of this little colony, and we mention them as 
 they occur in the narrative, to show what the real difficulties of such an 
 undertaking are, for the information and guidance of those at a distance ; 
 though to local readers our minuteness in detail may be tedious. 
 
 During the delay referred to, the emigrants resided on Westville, where 
 houses, stores, &c., had been already erected. The original plan was, we 
 understand, to have had a commodious hut, raised on each location, which the 
 natives run up in a couple of days, at a small expense. 
 
 Allowing four months for the passage, one month for delay, owing to the 
 absence of Mr. Bergtheil, and one month for selecting and measuring the 
 several allotments, — during which last we must also include the erection of 
 some kind of building, — we leave the history of this settlement for the period 
 of six months, and introduce the reader to the emigrant on the day twelve 
 months after his embarking for Natal. 
 
 Turning off the road to the left as you ride from Pietermaritzburg to 
 D’Urban, about fourteen miles from the latter town, you see small droves of 
 cattle, including generally a span of oxen, and a couple of milch cows. As 
 you ascend the first undulation, the homesteads of one or two of the 
 emigrants meet the view. On your way to the centre station, called the 
 “ pakhuis,” the little farms appear in every direction. From some of the 
 elevations about half a dozen may be seen at once, most romantically situated 
 as regards beauty of scenery. All that we passed had houses, with glazed 
 windows, or sashes ready for glazing, — and appeared to contain at least 
 three apartments. A temporary out-kitchen is generally a feature in the es- 
 tablishment. Near the house stands the cattle kraal, and round the dwelling, 
 the garden, carefully laid out, and stocked with vegetables, indicating taste, 
 industry, and contentment. Besides this, there is on each property a con- 
 siderable number of acres under cultivation. We will not hazard an opinion 
 as to the quantity of land ploughed, but the activity of the agriculturists with 
 their ploughs and harrows on most of the locations we passed, seemed an 
 irresistible demonstration of success. In some instances fencing was com- 
 menced, and the garden ground was generally enclosed, although the extent 
 to which it appeared the emigrants proposed carrying on their ploughing, 
 rendered the practicability of enclosing very doubtful ; at least, at present. 
 We may remark here, that the planting of mealies, (Indian corn,) &c., is not 
 only necessary for ensuring supplies, but prepares the ground for cotton. 
 
 At one house we alighted and found the husbandman busy with his Caffers 
 at work in the field. Mr. Bergtheil, being the esquire of the estate, was 
 welcomed in the most cordial manner by the gude wife, who placed some 
 wholesome refreshments before her guests with an air of cheerfulness not to 
 be seen described in any of the countenances delineated in the Illustrated 
 News, in representations of continental strife. The repast consisted of 
 coffee, and home-made bread, and home-made butter. Exulting in the fertility 
 of his little farm, the tenant showed his garden, well stocked with beans of 
 various kinds, potatoes, and other vegetables, the produce of seed brought 
 from Germany, and planted as an experiment. The ploughed land had been 
 sowed, — one field with oats, another with barley, another with mealies, with 
 patches of beans and potatoes, where the seed which was not obtainable at 
 
54 
 
 the time, had run short. The children of the family were all in health, and 
 evidently happy and comfortable ; and no traces of sickness or sorrow 
 appeared. 
 
 On our road from this, one of the outermost stations, we passed others 
 seemingly tenanted by even more careful people ; who took greater pride and 
 more pains to improve their homesteads. These, however, appeared to enjoy 
 the advantage of the assistance of one or two strapping sons. 
 
 After about twenty minutes or half an hour’s ride through the locations, — 
 the beacons of which, marked and numbered, gave an appearance of civiliza- 
 tion in this unfortunately unmeasured country, — we arrived at the principal 
 station. This establishment includes a comfortable dwelling, with sufficient 
 apartments for the accommodation of the manager, with whom resides the 
 amiable and zealous minister, and the doctor, all Germans of pleasant 
 manners, and admirably well selected for promoting harmony and order on 
 the estate. Attached to the dwelling, is the “ Pakhuis,” whence supplies are 
 issued as required by the emigrants. 
 
 Owing to a rumoured invasion of the colony by the Zulus, current at tbe 
 time of our visit, the emigrants had assembled at the Pakhuis and thrown up 
 a palisade, with a moat that may serve as a rendezvous and place of defence 
 should danger ever occur. The promptitude with which these arrangements 
 were devised and carried out, is highly creditable. Pietermaritzburg, after all 
 its public meetings, resolutions, and committees of safety appointed during 
 the last three years, has nothing to compare with the Germany leger. His 
 Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, having appointed Mr. Bergtheil, captain of 
 his own men, the order for enrolment had been so efficiently attended to, that 
 on our arrival, prior to the receipt of the paper containing the government 
 notice, authorizing the formation of the corps, a list had been taken of those 
 able to bear arms, and showing also the number who had been in military 
 service, battles, &c., and also those qualified to form a band, if required. 
 
 Among the civil arrangements, we must not omit to notice that a school 
 master is also provided, for whom a school-room and apartment are in course 
 of erection. At present the children meet daily for instruction in the new 
 chapel. 
 
 During their six months establishment, one case of dispute has occurred, 
 but since Mr. Harding’s prompt enforcement of the terms of the contract, no 
 differences have arisen. The people all appear happy and very well satisfied 
 with the arrangement they have entered into. Some are anxious their friends 
 should be sent for to join them. 
 
 At present Gaffers have been secured at the rate of five shillings per month. 
 While mealies are scarce this arrangement lasts pretty well, but when food 
 becomes — as it does here — extravagantly and unmarketably abundant, indo- 
 lence is apt to follow. The only way of meeting this inconvenience is to 
 engage the native for a term that shall at least include one harvest time. 
 If government puts the colonists in a position for preventing the wreckless 
 breaches of contract, so loudly complained of, disputes and heartburnings 
 would diminish, to the prosjrerity of the settler and the advantage of the 
 native. 
 
 From so cursory a visit it is not competent for us to detail more fully all 
 the obstacles to be encountered, but the impression made is so favorable to 
 the enlightened enterprise of the projectors of this settlement, that we do not 
 begrudge the unexpected amount of space it has consumed. One discourage- 
 ment, however, we must not omit. To the discredit of the English name we 
 must say that it was not the contagion of heathenism that sent its pestiferous 
 influence to break the peace-, order, and prosperity of this well-organized 
 
55 
 
 colony, but the bad example of some of our own countrymen, whose public 
 desecration of the Sabbath, &c., was calculated to inflict irreparable injury on 
 the moral character of some of the weaker emigrants. 
 
 Space compels us to be brief as possible, in our description of the most 
 creditable of the arrangements on the estate. 
 
 The day after we arrived was the Sabbath. It was the anniversary of the 
 embarkation of the emigrants. The large bell sent its airy summonses to be 
 repeated in echoes through the surrounding dells. Just as the country 
 peasantry in England are seen flocking from their happy homesteads, so the 
 Germans, with their children in decent attire, were seen repairing to the 
 central station. The new chapel was to be opened, and the Hon. W. Field, 
 with several of the inhabitants of D’Urban, attended on the occasion. At the 
 appointed hour the Rev. Mr. Posselt proceeded to the new place of worship 
 raised within the last six months, and finished, and decorated with simple 
 garlands of flowers by the children in a style highly beautiful and com- 
 mendatory. The superintendent, and family, were also present. The new 
 seraphine added to the solemnity and harmony of the service. Mr. P. 
 delivered an affectionate and impressive sermon from the words — “ If I forget 
 thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.” He referred with 
 touching eloquence to the circumstances of the Jews as described in the ex- 
 quisitely beautiful Psalm in which the text occurs ; showed the happiness his 
 hearers enjoyed, even in their foreign homes, of not only being free from the 
 persecutor’s arm, and scoffer’s taunt, but provided with every facility for 
 repairing to the Zion they were that day founding. We regret being com- 
 pelled to break off the outline. 
 
 At the close of the service the emigrants assembled round Mr. Bergtheil, 
 to express their happiness at the arrangements that had been made, and to 
 congratulate him on his birth-day. This last expression of esteem was con- 
 veyed by several of the little girls, surprising Mr. B. by crowning him with 
 laurels, to which was attached some original congratulatory verses. 
 
 We must not forget the collection. After service there was a collection, — 
 of friends who had honored the occasion, by coming from D’Urban, who 
 collected to partake of a hospitable dinner ; Mr. Posselt being at one end of 
 the table, and the day not being suitable for congratulatory speeches, the 
 decorum which forbade the expression of what was due, is the apology for the 
 neglect. 
 
 After the German service, the native congregation assembled for public 
 worship. Most of these wore European clothing. 
 
 Thus 15,000 acres of waste land have been turned to account, and instead 
 of joining the poverty-stricken rabble of European mobs, these families are 
 happy. 
 
 The following is an epitome of the contract : — Mr. J. Bergtheil, and 
 Mr. E. Suffert, of Bremen, agent of Messrs. H. & E. Suffert, of Cape Town, 
 being the owners of a tract of land in this colony, as the first party, enter 
 into the following agreement with , as the second party : — 
 
 1. The above named landed proprietors give the said in lease, 
 
 a tract of two hundred and ten English acres of land fit for the cultivation of 
 cotton. Ten acres to be allowed for raising vegetables for consumption, &c., 
 and the remainder to be devoted to the production of cotton. 
 
 2. The emigrant is bound immediately after his arrival, with the help of 
 natives, to cultivate as much of his land as possible, fifty acres per annum at 
 least, being the estimated extent reckoned on. The seed, or young plants to 
 be supplied gratis. 
 
56 
 
 3. The settler on being put in possession of his allotment, is to provide 
 for the subsistence of his family and native laborers. 
 
 4. The proprietors are bound to advance the necessary cattle, and farming 
 utensils at the most reasonable price, should the emigrant be unable to provide 
 himself with them. 
 
 5. The proprietors are bound either to provide the settler with a house, 
 or tent. If the latter should, however, build a dwelling, it is to be legally 
 appraised, and the value fixed, to be paid to the emigrant on his leaving the 
 estate. 
 
 6. Charges for surveying the land leased to the settler to be borne by the 
 proprietors of the estate. 
 
 7. Each of the contracting parties to bear an equal share of the expenses 
 of drawing and validifying the agreement, both before H. M. consul at 
 Bremen, and the proper authorities at Natal. 
 
 8. The rent of the land is to be paid by the settler, at the rate of one 
 third of the gross proceeds of the cotton ; and produce raised on any spots 
 less favorable for cotton to be taken in the same proportion. In order to 
 insure impartiality in the distribution of the allotments, they will be disposed 
 of by lot, after the arrival of the emigrants, and in their presence on the 
 estate. 
 
 9. With regard to the realization of the produce, the proprietors of the 
 estate will either engage to purchase it at the highest current price, or con- 
 sign it on account of the emigrant. 
 
 10. The emigrant acknowledges to be indebted for the amount of his 
 family’s passage money. 
 
 11. Payment of all advances to be made in instalments of one fourth of 
 the amount due after each crop, or sooner if preferred. 
 
 12. Produce raised, or cattle reared on the ten acres allowed for vegetables, 
 &c., to be the exclusive property of the emigrant. 
 
 13. With a view of encouraging the settlers, the proprietors will award 
 the following premiums : — To each of the three who raise the greatest 
 quantity during the first year, 120 florins; in the second year to the same 
 number of competitors 180 florins; and in the third year 250 florins. To 
 the three producing cotton of the best quality, a premium will be awarded, — 
 for the first year 90 florins; for the second 120, and for the third 200 
 florins. The settler who shows his house, garden, and other property to be 
 in the best order at the expiration of the first year, is to receive 90 florins ; 
 the settler who shows most improvement at the end of the second year 120, 
 and to the conquering competitor at the end of the third year 200 florins. 
 The settler announcing his intention to compete is to nominate an arbitrator 
 of unblameable character ; the proprietors will also appoint a respectable 
 person, who will, with his co- arbitrator, choose an umpire. 
 
 14. The term of lease of five years, to commence from the date of 
 occupation of allotment, and one year’s notice to be given in case of an inten- 
 tion on the part of the emigrant not to renew the lease. Should the 
 emigrant desire to renew the lease on the same terms, they are at liberty to 
 do so ; the proprietors binding themselves to consent. 
 
 15. Should the emigrant attempt to stultify this agreement by idle, intem- 
 perate, or disorderly conduct, the proprietors shall be at liberty to cancel their 
 engagement, the proper proof before judicial authority of the delinquency of 
 the defaulter being first required. 
 
Pi 
 
 a/ 
 
 The following document respecting Natal is interesting: — 
 
 CULTIVATION OP COTTON AT NATAL. 
 
 To the Editor of the Manchester Courier. 
 
 Sir, — As the opening of new sources for the supply of good cotton has, 
 in this district, an importance little inferior to the plentiful supply of food, I 
 hope I shall not trespass too much upon your kindness, by requesting space 
 for the publication, in your journal, of some interesting particulars relative to 
 Natal, which have this week been transmitted to this Chamber. 
 
 It will be in your recollection, that the capabilities of Natal to produce good 
 cotton were first brought to public notice through a personal communication 
 to the directors of this chamber, by Mr. Blaine, on the 3rd of February, 1848, 
 which was published in the Courier of the 5th of that month ; and these views 
 were subsequently confirmed by Mr. Bergtheil, at an interview held on the 
 24-th of February, 1848, a full and accurate report of which appeared in the 
 Courier of the 26th of that month. Following in the track of Messrs. Blaine 
 and Bergtheil, a Mr. E. Chiappini has addressed to the chamber, under the 
 date of the 15th of September, 1848, the valuable information which follows, 
 and which I give you in his own words : — 
 
 “ About four years ago, I first visited Natal, with a view to the formation 
 of a mercantile establishment, I was then first shown a sample of cotton, 
 grown, if I remember rightly, in the garden of one of the missionaries. With 
 a little inducement, I persuaded a party to try its cultivation; and, in 1846, 
 sent to England about 200 lbs. weight as a sample. The report thereon being 
 most favorable, the same party was induced gradually, but very timidly, to 
 extend his operations; so that, in 1846, he gathered about 800 lbs., which 
 sold in England at 7^d. per lb. In 1847, Mr. J purchased the planta- 
 
 tion, from which he then gathered 3,000ibs., still, I believe, lying unsold in 
 Liverpool ; and the result of his crop this season, will be seen in a memoran- 
 dum marked A.” 
 
 With reference to the interest taken by settlers in the cultivation of cotton, 
 Mr. Chiappini remarks, “ Even until within the last three or four months, I 
 may say, that with the exception of Mr. Bergtheil and ourslves, no one here 
 has turned his serious attention to the cultivation of cotton, so that the whole 
 of this season’s gathering will not have produced more than fifteen or twenty 
 tons of clean cotton. I am certain, that there are not a dozen English farmers 
 in the country ; and they, with but few exceptions, without means, beyond 
 the possession of their farms, so that it is not to be wondered at that the 
 resources of the colony are so slowly being developed. 
 
 “ The description of men most wanted are neither great capitalists nor 
 paupers, but such as can command from £75 to £1,000, say men with less 
 than £500 as tenants, and men with greater means as proprietors and occu- 
 pants : in the latter case it would of course be advisable that they be accom- 
 panied by one or two farm servants. Nor should I recommend any one to 
 bring with him any thing more than ploughs and a harrow, unless it be a 
 cotton gin and press ; but these it would be time enough to write for, after 
 the party had been some little time in the colony.” 
 
 With reference to the position and prices of land suitable for the growth of 
 cotton, Mr. Chiappini observes, “ That it is a mistaken notion to suppose that 
 the land bordering on the sea coast is alone fit for the cultivation of cotton ; 
 I have seen it growing as luxuriantly forty miles from the coast, though a 
 Mr. Southam, a gentleman from your city, and wdio professes to be a judge of 
 
 G 
 
58 
 
 the article, says that that grown near the coast is of superior quality. The 
 minimum government upset price of land is four shillings ^ acre, but emi- 
 grants must nnt expect that they will get suitable land near the coast at this 
 rate. The best of the land is already in the possession of private parties, who 
 are beginning to form most extravagant notions of its value. Messrs. 
 Galloway and Southam have, however, succeeded in purchasing 800 acres of 
 good clear land, within about twelve or fifteen miles from the port; but the 
 party from whom they purchased refuses to sell more just now at any price, in 
 the idea that if Messrs. Galloway and Southam succeed, many more will 
 follow them, and thus he will find no lack of purchasers, at a very different 
 price. 
 
 “ 1 have said that parties must not expect to get cotton land at the govern- 
 ment minimum price of four shillings per acre, unless, indeed, they 7 will be 
 at the trouble and expense of clearing away dense bush. All clear open 
 ground that has been hitherto offered for sale by government, ( I allude, of 
 course, to cotton ground,) has been bought at prices ranging as high as 
 10s. 6d. per acre, and they have now none such for sale within thirty miles 
 of the port ; but some in farms of from five to seven hundred acres, at this 
 distance, will be submitted to public competition in the course of a few 
 months; and as there are no speculators here just now, these farms, in the 
 event of their not being sold by auction, will be for private sale, thus afford- 
 ing an opportunity for anv emigrants that may arrive subsequent to the date 
 of the public sale, to commence operations, without being compelled to pur- 
 chase from private parties at exorbitant rates ; but as government have not 
 more than from 75,000 to 100,000 acres of cotton ground to dispose of, and 
 as the best lands are in possession of private parties, it cannot be long ere 
 there is any good cotton land procurable at all under fifteen or twenty 
 shillings per acre. We have ourselves sold about 2,700 acres, at five shillings 
 per acre, bushy land, to as high as forty shillings for clear ground, in the 
 neighbourhood of the port.” 
 
 On the subject of labor, Mr. Chiappini says : — “ That new comers, in con- 
 sequence of their total ignorance of the Kafir language and customs, ex- 
 perience great difficulty in getting labour, but after having been in the 
 colony a few months, this difficulty vanishes ; yet, 1 must admit, that like all 
 savages whose wants are few, the Zoolas or Kafirs are a lazy set, in short, I 
 should say, that one European would, as far as hard labour goes, do the work 
 of half-a-dozen of them ; nor can their labour be depended on, for, perhaps 
 when most wanted, they abscond on a visit to some of their friends ; but all 
 this might be easily remedied by a master and servant’s ordinance, which I 
 believe is about to be done. The country literally swarms with native kraals, 
 (villages,) so that with proper management on the part of the government, 
 there ought never to be a want of such easy labour as is required for the 
 cultivation of cotton and indigo. The rate of wages for native labourers 
 ranges from three to five shillings per month ; but I have heard of one or 
 two parties (who, perhaps, have a bad name among them) paying as high as 
 7s. 6d., this, of course, exclusive of food, consisting of maize, the average 
 price of which is Is. 6d. per bushel, and meat twice a week; but as they are 
 satisfied with what would be considered offal in England, this entails no great 
 expense.” 
 
 The description which Mr. Chiappini gives of .the country is as follow's :■ 
 
 “ This is my fourth visit to this settlement ; I have seen the country at all 
 seasons of the year, and my opinion of its resources is as sanguine now 7 as 
 when I first landed here. The whole country is well watered, much more so 
 than any portion of the parent colony; it abounds in useful and durable 
 
59 
 
 timber, but in consequence of the rankness or luxuriance of the grass, no 
 portion of it within sixty miles from the coast is adapted for sheep ; but in 
 the north- western portion of the settlement, there are two or three very fine 
 flocks of merinos. On the whole, I should say that an acre of land at Natal 
 is equivalent, in pasturage for cattle, to ten acres in the old colony. Wheat 
 of very good quality, weighing 2001b. Dutch per muid,* is grown by the 
 farmers about Pietermaritzburg, the capital ; but I am told that near the coast 
 it is, as in the parent colony, subject to rust or blight ; but at the same time 
 1 must say, that I looked in vain for any attempt at its cultivation near the 
 coast, indeed, I firmly believe that no one ever tried it. 
 
 I he harbor of Natal, owing to the bar, is not safe for a vessel drawing 
 more than 10^ feet of water; but the anchorage in the road is as good, if not 
 better, (so nautical men tell me,) than that in most of our bays. The port 
 is, of course, capable of great improvement. 
 
 “ Coal has not yet been found sufficiently near the coast, to be available, and 
 I much doubt whether it has ever been looked for. That which is brought to 
 the Pietermaritzburg market, although of good quality, is found on the sur- 
 face of the ground, about seventy-five miles from the coast.” 
 
 Mr. Chiappini concludes this letter with the following paragraph : — 
 
 “At the suggestion of our worthy governor- in-chief. Sir Harry Smith, i 
 drew out, about six months ago, as clear a statement as I could in regard to 
 the capabilities of this settlement, and which statement he did me the honour 
 of forwarding to Earl Grey;f and as Sir Harry Smith’s views of Natal are 
 entirely in unison with my own, I should not be surprised to find that emigra- 
 tion on an extensive scale will, ere long, set into this beautiful colony, which 
 can boast of as fine a soil and as delightful a climate as any in the world.” 
 
 The preceding letter, written at Natal, seems to have been brought by the 
 writer to Cape Town, for it forms the enclosure of one dated from Cape 
 Town, the 4th of October, 1848, which originated in the following circum- 
 stance : — When the subject of Natal cotton was first broached at the cham- 
 ber, the president sought out some to test the character of it, and in the early 
 part of the present year, the arrival of a further small supply being commu- 
 nicated to him, he made a second purchase. On this occasion, Mr. Bazelv 
 desired the parties selling to ascertain whether any steps had been taken 
 towards endeavouring to improve the colour of the cotton, and whether such 
 experiment had been successful ; also to what extent we might receive cotton 
 from that quarter in a few years. The queries seem to have been duly 
 forwarded, and Mr. Chiappini proves to be the gentleman from whom a 
 solution is sought, for he thus replies to them, in his letter of the 4th 
 of October: — 
 
 “ Having already stated in the enclosed, what I think will satisfy you as to 
 the capabilities of Natal, I can only say, that the supply to be expected from 
 thence in a few years, will be regulated entirely by the ciirrent of emigration 
 of the right sort thither. 
 
 “As to any improvement in the colour even having been attempted, I 
 cannot speak, but my opinion is, that the cotton indigenous to Natal (of which 
 description that which we have hitherto shipped is) is naturally of a light 
 cream colour. I, however, enclose a small sample of some from Sea Island 
 
 * 2001b. Dutch, equal 2131b. English. A muid— 2-757 bushels. So that if 2-758 
 bushels weigh 2131b. one bushel will weigh 77§ lb. 
 
 •f The statement hei'e mentioned is published in the papers on Natal presented to 
 Parliament in 1848, page 216‘. 
 
60 
 
 seed, I believe, cultivated on Mr. Bergtheil’s plantation, from whence I 
 gathered it.” 
 
 Mr. Chiappini, with a view of meeting inquiries as to his character and 
 credibility, states himself to be a partner in the firm of A. Chiappini and Co. ; 
 the senior Mr. Chiappini being the oldest merchant in the colony, and the 
 firm of the longest standing, and concludes with the following proposal : 
 
 “ Wh are proprietors of many thousands of acres of land at Natal, of 
 farms in all parts of the colony, which we should be happy to lease out to 
 respectable emigrants with some little capital, in farms of from 100 to 500 
 acres, at an annual rental of from Is. to 3s. 6d. per acre. But what we 
 would prefer would be, that through your influence a company should be 
 formed in Manchester, &c., &c. 
 
 “ I trust that the interest attached to the subject of discovering new sources 
 of supply of cotton, will operate as an apology for the large space which this 
 communication will take in your valuable journal. I will only add, that the 
 original documents may be seen at this office by any person who may be de- 
 sirous of seeing them. 
 
 I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 THOs. BOOTHAM, Secretary. 
 
 Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures, 
 
 Manchester , Dec. 21, 1848. 
 
 EMIGRATION TO NATAL; 
 
 By Ered k ' Colltson, Esq. 
 
 “ Impossible as, from our knowledge of human nature, we know it to be, 
 to find every body of one mind, still, we venture to assert, that there are 
 no two who dissent from our proposition. ‘That emigration is absolutely 
 necessary;’ and further, that, in this country, everything is overdone; that, 
 in every department, competition is so great, that remuneration is barely 
 possible, and pauperism much on the increase ; that population has progressed 
 far beyond the demand for labour ; and that a large portion of all classes 
 might *be parted with, to the great benefit of the remainder. Now the only 
 requisite to the accomplishment of so necessary an object, is just what good 
 feeling would dictate; namely, to facilitate to the utmost the operations of 
 those who are emigrating, for whilst serving them, we are benefiting 
 ourselves. 
 
 “ It is unnecessary to follow up, in the abstract, the subject of emigration, 
 about the necessity of which all appear to agree ; but we will at once proceed, 
 in the second place, to point out the locality most suitable and advantageous 
 to all parties. In a brief statement like the present, it would be quite a work 
 of supererogation to touch upon New South Wales, New Zealand, Canada, 
 and the United States, upon each of which volumes have been written, each 
 holding out inducements, which it is a matter of wonder, that any one of a 
 locomotive disposition could neglect or resist ; but in the absence of other in- 
 formation on the subject, I wish to draw attention to Natal, a place I had 
 occasion to visit, some time back, on account of my health ; a country, with 
 the beauty of which every one is in raptures, a country suitable, in every par- 
 ticular, for colonization. 
 
 “ Situated on the eastern coast of South Africa, about half way between 
 England, New South Wales, or New Zealand, it is protected on the western 
 
 l 
 
61 
 
 side by a range of mountains, from which numerous streams descend to the 
 sea, removing all fear of that scourge of other colonies — drought. The face 
 of the country may generally be described as undulating, having no very high 
 elevations, (except the mountainous frontiers of the Draaksberg,) with suffi- 
 cient timber to make it extremely picturesque ; not scrubby, but having 
 naturally the appearance of a nobleman’s park, — here a clump of trees, there 
 a single tree, standing out in all its native beauty ; and all placed in the 
 position that good taste would wish them. The land is covered with grass of 
 the most luxurious growth, frequently topping your saddle. 
 
 “ The advantages of such a country, where no labour or expense of clearing 
 the ground is required, but where the plough can at once be set to work, is 
 too obvious to require comment. Indigo, of the description usually cultivated 
 in India, grows wild. The coffee plant was full of berries ; sugar has been 
 produced, and the native plants are most delicious and refreshing. A fruit 
 about the size and colour of a large Orleans plumb, particularly attracted our 
 attention : it had no stone, but when bitten in half, being about two mouth- 
 fuls, a white, cream-like substance exuded, so that it was observed by one of 
 our party, that * Nature had not only provided us with a dessert, but also 
 with cream to eat with it.’ Wheat weighs about sixty-five pounds per bushel, 
 and in grinding gives out very little bran ; all vegetables and seeds that have 
 been hitherto tried, grow well. Oats yield largely ; and a most important 
 recommendation is, that Natal possesses one of the best markets in the world, 
 anxiously looking out for all its surplus produce — grain, cattle, salted fish, 
 pork, beans (then were selling at D’Urban at 9s. to 12s. per bushel,) butter, 
 lard, &c. &c., all being required for the Island of Mauritius, about three 
 weeks’ sail from Natal. Tobacco is quite a perfume, (this, by the bye, is a 
 matter of opinion,) and the leaf extremely broad. From the extreme rich- 
 ness of the soil, the cultivator of it works for many years at a great advantage, 
 not being obliged to incur much expense for carting manure upon the land. 
 Oxen for ploughing cost £3 10s. each. No winter store of turnips or 
 mangelworzel is required, in a country covered all the year round with 
 uninterrupted verdure ; the cattle, when released from the yoke are turned out 
 to pasture, to take care of themselves until they are again wanted, and so 
 well do they appear to understand this part of their duty, or so abundant is 
 their food, that we never saw but one lean ox in the whole of our travels. 
 As was before observed, drought is unknown, — that great scourge of the 
 emigrant in many countries, where having, by patience and labour, collected 
 large flocks or herds, and esteeming himself rich, with, perhaps, an intention 
 of revisiting his dear fatherland, which he left poor, his dreams are suddenly 
 disturbed, the windows of heaven are shut, he sees his flocks daily die off, 
 until there remains to him a mere wreck of his former wealth ; he is at once 
 plunged back into poverty. All these are matters which should have the 
 serious consideration of the emigrant, before he takes his final leap ; and, 
 amongst many reasons why Natal is so desirable to the agriculturist, may be 
 reckoned this, that drought is quite unknown, the country being covered with 
 fountains and streams like a net work.” 
 
 NATAL THE KEY OE AFRICA. — EREE LABOUR COTTON. 
 
 The following letters have been copied from “ The Friend .” They were 
 inserted in that journal by Mr. Sturge ; and they will be interesting here 
 just now, when Natal and Cotton Cultivation are engrossing so much atten- 
 tion : — 
 
62 
 
 New Kent Road, Eleventh Month, 9th, 1848. 
 
 Esteemed Friend, — The following letter, received by me six months ago, 
 I regret not to have earlier offered for the general information of friends, 
 rather (I acknowledge ) as matter of interest in connexion with Free-Labour 
 produce in the article of cotton, than any expectation of the part of Africa 
 named being chosen as a place for emigration ; which, if ever selected, should 
 be under a sense of duty. 
 
 The writer resigned his membership in our religious society in a very 
 friendly spirit. Nearly all his nearest relations had previously done so. 
 
 Thy friend, 
 
 SAMUEL STURGE. 
 
 Port Natal, January 28 th, 1848. 
 
 Esteemed Friend, — So many years having elapsed since you were ac- 
 quainted with me, you will perhaps have forgotten the request you made when 
 1 was about to leave England for Africa, that I should write and give you any 
 information that lay in my power respecting the “ Sons of Africa/’ The 
 object of my now writing, is to give you and the Society of Friends generally, 
 (if you think the information of any value,) some idea of the vast field that 
 Natal presents to Christian benevolence for the improvement of the human 
 race. 
 
 Natal is, in my humble opinion, a key designed by the great Giver of every 
 blessing for the opening and civilization of the interior of this vast con- 
 tinent ; so few parts, on either the east or west coast of Africa, are sufficiently 
 healthy to offer a reward to European enterprize and industry. With 
 regard to Natal, I can speak from experience, having a large family, all of 
 whom enjoy perfect health: it is decidedly more healthy than Cape Town, and 
 although nearer the Tropic, Europeans find no difficulty in following the 
 plough, or other agricultural work. Natal, unlike many, or most parts of the 
 old colony, is well watered. Rivers that are flowing throughout the year in- 
 tersect the country in every direction ; both the hills and valleys are always 
 covered with thick grass. Although the Society of Friends do not send out 
 missionaries, yet, I have thought for some time past that if a small body of 
 them were in this country, forming cotton and indigo plantations, where 
 schools could be established for the instructions of the natives who would be 
 living on the plantations at their own kraals, a system of this kind might be 
 more advantageous, and perhaps, more successful than many or most of the 
 missionary institutions have proved. I have observed, that industry does not 
 appear to be, in general, sufficiently inculcated. If Friends were to come 
 here, they might make it (as it were,) a mercantile speculation. Agriculturists 
 might come with the express object of cultivating the land, and the Friends 
 as a body defray the expense of having schools established, say one to six or 
 eight plantations, so as to be central ; a moderate degree of labor, and attend- 
 ing the school, might go hand in hand. Cotton and indigo are particularly 
 well-adapted to the climate ; both are indigenous. Of indigo there are many 
 varieties ; one or two appear superior to that generally cultivated in India. 
 Mr. Lindiey, one of our American missionaries, who was brought up on a 
 cotton plantation, his father being a cotton-planter in America, has often told 
 me that he believes the cotton here to be 50 per cent, more productive than 
 in America, where it is sown every year : here it lasts many years, being a 
 perennial. He has said that he never saw anything like it, and it is his 
 opinion, that Natal is the finest country in the whole world for cotton. If 
 such is the case, could not a death-blow be struck at American slavery ? 
 
63 
 
 Here we have thousands of blacks willing to work for three or four shillings 
 per month ; and these people when guided by proper management work 
 well. There is no question that Natal could supply the greater part of the 
 cotton required ; we only want English enterprize ; of capital, it wants but 
 little. 
 
 One reason why this colony offers a more favorable field than many others 
 is, that there would be no interference with the rights of any other tribe. 
 The present natives are nearly all emigrants or refugees from interior tribes ; 
 the Aborigines were exterminated some years since, by a Zooloo chief. The 
 Fingoes on the frontier of the Cape colony were a remnant that escaped. 
 
 In conclusion, I would remark, that the government are desirous of afford- 
 ing every facility to emigration. A Cotton Company has lately been 
 established in Cape Town with a capital of twenty thousand pounds. The 
 government have granted to the company, land for every British emigrant 
 brought into the district of Natal, in the proportion of two shillings per acre ; 
 and valuing each emigrant at ten ponnds, that is 100 acres for every emigrant. 
 I do not feel myself competent to do this subject justice, but I have written 
 from a sense of duty, feeling that the Society of Friends would be conferring 
 incalculably more benefit on the sons of Africa, by forming a settlement here, 
 than by anything else they could do. The natives here are an agricultural 
 race, and make good servants. 
 
 Owing to cotton thriving so remarkably well, a farm two hours’ ride from 
 the bay, that was sold for three hundred pounds only a few months ago, and 
 thought then to be a good price, was purchased to-day for fifteen hundred 
 pounds ; the purchaser is daily expecting one hundred and sixty German 
 emigrants to put on it. 
 
 Any information I can furnish will be done with the greatest pleasure. 
 
 Believe me, yours sincerely, 
 
 (Signed,) RALPH CLARENCE. 
 
 The above valuable statements are confirmed in a paper recently printed at 
 Gateshead, under the title of Cotton Cultivation in Natal . — Ed. 
 
 [The following letter from John Bird, Esq., a Government Land Surveyor, 
 at Natal, an 1 Resident Magistrate at Klip River, speaks for itself, and 
 embraces every subject with which the emigrant would desire to be 
 acquainted ; may success attend this active, intelligent, and judicious 
 public officer,] 
 
 Tugela, Natal, 23rd, December, 1848. 
 
 My dear Sir, — I fear I have been very dilatory in fufilling my promise to 
 commit to paper “ the notes on Natal” that you were desirous to have. I 
 must plead in excuse the press of urgent business, which I believe you are 
 aware has lately occupied every instant of my time. Before leaving Pieter- 
 maritzburg, I had commenced writing on a scale, which I have since found 
 myself obliged to reduce, for a pamphlet of too great length to invite any 
 general perusal, would not have been what you required. 
 
 General appointment of Natal . — If you were pleased with the appearance 
 of Natal, during your visit, which occurred at the end of a season of unusual 
 drought, when the trees, except the evergreens, were leafless, and the grass 
 was withered or burnt away, you will easily imagine how beautiful the 
 scenery must be, where every tint of foliage and flowers and the most 
 luxuriant verdure beautify the landscape. The general aspect of the country 
 
64 
 
 is such as calls forth the admiration of every traveller, and the least ob- 
 servant, the least desirous of information, is led to enquire whether the capa- 
 bilities and resources correspond to the promises of the soil. 
 
 Its capabilities . — The occupation of Natal by Europeans has not been too 
 recent to devolope its productiveness. Cotton and Indigo are indigenous, 
 of a species, however, inferior to that supplied for European manufacture 
 from other countries, but the American and Egyptian varieties of the former 
 and the Indian Indigo have been tried with complete success. It has been 
 ascertained that every kind of grain (except wheat, which, probably owing to 
 imperfect experience of the season for sowing, has not been raised with an 
 uniformly profitable return,) and vegetables as well as almost all plants 
 introduced from tropical and temperate regions, and very many from cold 
 climates, thrive perfectly well in Natal. Timber of various kinds abounds in 
 the many beautiful forests that cover extensive tracts in many parts of the 
 district. In fact it is not too much to say that nature can scarcely have been 
 more prodigal of her gifts to any spot of earth than to Natal. Rising from 
 the sea by gradual stages of elevation to the very high ground at the base of 
 the mountain chain forming its western boundary, it embraces every variety 
 of soil and temperature, accommodating itself to the various purposes of 
 husbandry, botanical, agricultural, or pastural. Hence the warmth of the sea- 
 coast, and its freedom from frost render it peculiarly fit for cotton and tropical 
 plants. The western and northwestern region is chiefly valuable for pasture, 
 and the intervening best for a more mixed agriculture. 
 
 The rank luxuriance of the grass, which cannot in a thinly peopled colony 
 be sufficiently depastured, will render it for some time unfit for sheep : — but 
 the same obstacle existed only a few years ago in some portions of the Cape 
 colony, which are now the favorite sheep-walks. 
 
 Horses, if allowed to run at night in low vallies, are subject to a dangerous 
 disease, from which they remain exempt if sheltered and kept from grazing 
 till the dew and mist of morning have been dissipated. 
 
 It is scarcely possible that cattle can thrive better, or increase more rapidly 
 in any part of the world than in Natal. 
 
 Climate . — To the constitution of man, the climate is remarkably favorable. 
 In my intercourse with the inhabitants, I have had every opportunity of 
 noticing how unfrequent ill health is among them. The cases of sickness 
 amongst the troops, even at D’Urban, where the camp has been most injudi- 
 ciously placed in a low damp situation, are very few, and not of grave local 
 character. 
 
 The end of autumn, the winter, and the commencement of spring, which 
 in most other countries are the rainy seasons, — constitute the period of fair 
 weather in Natal. The mornings are delightfully fine, — the mid-day warm, 
 and the evenings frosty and invigorating. During the remainder of the year 
 rain falls rarely in the forenoon, but more or less in the afternoon of every day, 
 sometimes (in the north-western districts invariably and violently) accom- 
 panied by thunder. Exposed as I have been to every inclemency of weather 
 for nearly two years, during which, excepting at intervals, my only shelter has 
 been under canvass, I have thought the climate very inferior to that of the 
 Cape colony, but some who have been comfortably housed do not agree with 
 me in this opinion. 
 
 Natives, Kafirs or Zoolas . — A few words on the character, habits, and 
 condition of the negro population, will introduce the subject of the fitness of 
 Natal as a field of emigration. 
 
 When the settlement was ceded to the English, a few years ago, by 
 the Dutch Emigrants, the number of the Zoolas was very insignificant, and 
 
65 
 
 has been variously reckoned at 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000. The mean is 
 probably the most correct. They are now estimated at 120,000. The great 
 accession to their numbers has arisen from the immigration of many of the 
 subjects of the great Chief Panda, w r ho sought protection within our limits 
 from the tyranny and murderous cruelty of their despot. 
 
 Their habits.- — The male Kafir, by long hereditary custom, is averse to 
 labor of any kind. When young they submit to it reluctantly and only till 
 they have the means of purchasing a cow. In a few years this valuable 
 animal has produced a sufficient number of calves to enable him to purchase a 
 wife, who becomes bis drudge or slave. He then renounces all attempt at 
 industry, keeping his constitution and bodily strength in vigor by hunting, by 
 long rambles, and by the frequent and violent excercise of the war- dance. 
 The women till the ground, and discharge the natural duties requisite for the 
 maintenance of their husband and children. These, however, are simple and 
 not often severe. A small quantity of land turned, or rather loosened by the 
 hoe, suffices to produce the annual supply of Indian corn, which is their fa- 
 vorite food, and which, with milk, and occasionally, but rarely, the flesh 
 of a goat or useless ox, constitutes their diet. And yet notwithstanding the 
 very trifling exertion made to maintain themselves, you cannot have failed to re- 
 mark that an unhappy, lean, or unhealthy native is scarcely to be seen in Natal. 
 
 Fitness of Natal for the purposes of Emigration. — Contrast this last fact 
 with the constant sight of squalid misery, or at least with the knowledge of 
 its existence, in many parts of the continent and of our own country, and it is 
 impossible that the following train of thought should not suggest itself. “ If 
 a tribe, naturally indolent, lives thus in health, content, and peace, what can 
 prevent the same blessings from being enjoyed, even in a greater degree, by 
 such of our suffering fellow countrymen as many emigrate to Natal, and who 
 would not shun labor, if they had but the means of working for their daily 
 bread ?’* 
 
 How many, many thousand acres of valuable and fertile soil, available for 
 producing the means of plentiful subsistence to thousands, may lie un- 
 profitable for a century, unless a spur be given to immigration. You have 
 made very particular enquiry here as to the terms on which Government or 
 individuals will dispose of lands, and upon this point it is therefore unneces- 
 sary for me to dilate. 
 
 Emigration. — I have seen something of emigration in the Cape colony, and 
 have known much painful disappointment and unhappiness to result from it. 
 Let these be traced to their success, and it will appear that in this, as in every 
 other case, the abuse of anything whatever is no argument against its use.” 
 
 Who are they, for whom emigration is most desirable and necessary ? 
 The poor, the most needy ! The very circumstance of their need puts it 
 almost out of their power to defray the charge of a long passage. In some 
 cases, advantage has been taken of their necessitous condition by unworthy 
 men, who have removed them to a foreign soil, with no other view than that 
 of making the expense laid out for their expatriation an instrument for 
 exacting their services for selfish ends : — which once attained, the exiles 
 have been cast forth unprovided for on the land of the stranger. In other 
 instances, a man has sacrificed his all to attain the object of emigrating, with 
 the delusive idea that he is to land on an El dorado, where without the means 
 of purchasing or securing the right to a single inch of ground, or sub- 
 sisting till time and labor shall have matured at least the first year’s crop, his 
 miseries are to be forgotten and exchanged for a state of comparative happi- 
 ness. To the bursting of this bubble is superseded the pain of leaving quit- 
 ted home, a feeling that tinges every cross accident, little or great, with 
 
66 
 
 additional gloom, “ Coelum, non animum mutant, qui trans mare currant." 
 Experience of the soil, of the climate, and of the system of agriculture has 
 then to be acquired, and want, debt, and many concomitant evils, fill up the 
 measure of distress. 
 
 Such instances, however, cannot be regarded as militating against a rea- 
 sonable scheme of emigration. Admitting them to be cruel, a question might 
 be propounded, whether the condition of the disappointed emigrant can be 
 worse in a colony, in which for men physical labor there is great demand, than 
 it would have been in an overpeopled country, where though poverty should 
 stimulate his industry to the utmost, he could have found no scope for its exer- 
 tion ? And the answer would still be in favor of emigration. 
 
 As the benevolent measure of a Government, or of a body of individuals, 
 whose object should be to secure the means of subsistence or useful employ- 
 ment to those whom they have removed from a condition of painful want and 
 poverty, until such time as they shall be able to maintain themselves, emigra- 
 tion cannot at the present time be too highly commended, and for such a 
 measure Natal offers no ordinary facilities. 
 
 The present condition of Natal not favorable to speculation. — But although a 
 healthy climate, beautiful scenery, and a very fertile soil capable of maintaining 
 a numerous population, afford a very inviting prospect to men of industrious 
 habits, who have found the difficulty of procuring employment and subsistence 
 at home, and who may well anticipate that this difficulty will be increased in 
 another generation, I do not think there is any thing in the present condition 
 of Natal to tempt the cupidity of speculators. Many years will probably 
 elapse, before commerce flourishes in Natal, or its exports become considerable. 
 There is but one harbor, available only for vessels of small tonnage. There 
 is but one article, (which may, indeed, in course of time, become exceedingly 
 valuable,) by which it can ever be placed, on a point of commercial prosperity, 
 on a par with the neighbouring colonies of the Cape and Maurituis, i. e. 
 cotton. To the advantageous cultivation of this article on a great scale, there 
 exists, and I fear will long continue to exist, a serious obstacle. The plant 
 has to be reared with assiduous care; picking, cleansing, sorting, and prepa- 
 ration for exportation, must be minutely attended to. The labor of European 
 servants is so much in demand for household purposes and various trades, and 
 is therefore so expensive, that it could not, with any prospect of profit, be 
 applied to the culture of cotton. For reasons explained in the preceding page, 
 the labor of the Kafirs cannot be depended upon to any great extent. 
 Whether it will ever be in the power of the Government to convert the 
 native population into a useful laboring class is very questionable : the 
 experiment well deserves their serious consideration, for the prosperity of the 
 colonv greatly depends upon the result. The remedy for the want of labor 
 must be sought in the promotion of emigration on an extensive scale, or it will 
 depend on the slow process of the gradual increase of the European popu- 
 lation. 
 
 I have before said, that in my first attempt to supply the information you 
 wished for, I find my notes becoming greatly too voluminous. I fear, that in 
 trying to make them more compendious, I have erred in the contrary extreme, 
 and that I have by no means done justice to the subject. The only value you 
 will attach to my remarks will he that they have emanated from one who is 
 no way bound to, or interested in, the soil ; whose anxious desire is to return 
 to his home, and who may therefore lay claim to sincerity in what he has 
 said, without fear of deceiving himself or others. 
 
 In my new magistracy, I have been received with every indication of good 
 feeling. 
 
67 
 
 Besides a more particular introduction in my letters home, I enclose a note, 
 which, if you will deliver to my venerable father, you will oblige me more 
 than I can say. Wishing you a pleasant and safe voyage home, 
 
 I remain, my dear sir, your’s very truly, 
 
 J. S. Christopher, Esq. JOHN BIRD. 
 
 [Note. I showed the above letter to an officer seven years in the colony, who 
 agreed with it, except as regards climate, on which subject he gave me the following 
 observations. Ed ] 
 
 I do not think the climate of Natal is at all inferior to that of the Cape 
 Colony, but the contrary, so far as I have had the opportunity of judging. 
 It is certainly drier. A good deal of rain falls in the summer months in 
 thunder showers, &c. The winter months are usually dry ; but the country is 
 at all seasons abundantly supplied with water. The extreme salubrity of the 
 climate can be placed beyond question, by a reference to the official returns 
 of the health of the troops, &c., and a comparison of those returns with those 
 of other stations. It is free from the dust storms of the colony, less subject 
 to continued droughts, and the country suffers less therefrom, in consequence 
 of the numerous rivers, springs, &c. ; and it is also less subject to continued 
 rains. In some seasons, (but not in all,) thunder storms are frequent and 
 violent during the summer. Hot winds from N. and N.W. blow occasionally, 
 but seldom last long, generally not more than twelve hours. A high degree 
 of heat rarely continues beyond sixty hours, usually not so long. The ther- 
 mometer often falls many degrees in a very short space of time, and cool and 
 damp, often cold weather for a short time, succeed to great heat; but I never 
 heard of these changes being injurious. On the whole, I should say that the 
 Natal climate is more enjoyable than that of the Cape Colony. 
 
 I have the range of the thermometer recorded by the officer above alluded 
 to, for part of April, May, and part of June, the highest was 73 at noon, the 
 lowest 49f at 8 o’clock, a. m. Frost is never known on the sea coast, but 
 regularly in the high mountain regions inland. December and January are 
 the hottest months; the thermometer then reaches 85, rarely 90; but from the 
 lightness of the atmosphere, even 90 is less oppressive than 80 in England. 
 
 In reference to Mr. Bird’s letter I feel certain that he somewhat undervalues 
 the industrious habits of the Zoolus when fair encouragement is given to them. 
 
 [The following letter from Captain Campbell, of the Cape Mounted Rifles, 
 comparing Natal with other parts of the Cape colony, may be read with 
 interest and confidence by retired officers who intend to emigrate.] 
 
 King William Town, 16th May, 1849, 
 
 My dear Sir, In British Kaffraria, Cape of Good Hope. 
 
 I beg to acknowledge your letter of the 9th instant, and 
 will endeavour to comply with your request, in giving such information relative 
 to the Eastern frontier and the new colony of Natal, as my practical knowledge 
 will allow me, and as an old resident in the colony, 
 
 I was myself engaged in agricultural pursuits in the year 1833 and 34, on 
 a property called Beauville Park, in Lower Albany, distant twelve miles from 
 the Cowie river. My long residence in that part enables me speak of the 
 whole country between the mouth of the Bushman’s river west, and Cowie 
 east, which is well adapted for agriculture and stock. The Bushman’s river 
 is particularly adapted for sheep. The other part of Lower Albany is not 
 considered a sheep country. Anv kind of marketable grain and vegetable 
 can be raised on tlse farms in this district; the cotton tree I have had growing 
 
68 
 
 and bearing in my own garden, but being of opinion that labour was too 
 expensive in Albany, never attempted the cultivation beyond experiment. 
 
 The upper part of Albany is more adopted for stock farmers; but many of 
 the farms are extensively cultivated where sufficient water is obtainable for 
 irrigation. This part of the country is more subject to severe drought than 
 the sea coast. Having been the proprietor of a farm on the Koonap river, 
 well stocked with sheep, I can speak of that part of the district being the 
 finest part of the colony that I have seen in my travels through the different 
 district, for stock farmers. This is also the opinion of the Dutch farmers, 
 who one time occupied that part of the district. 
 
 The Caffer war of 1835, prevented my continuing my farming pursuits, my 
 whole stock being swept off by the enemy. Since which I have devoted 
 myself to military pursuits, which have given me an opportunity of seeing and 
 travelling over the whole colony, from Cape Town west to Natal east. At 
 the latter place I have been stationed four years, and had during that time an 
 opportunity of seeing the whole of that colony, and forming my opinion of its 
 capabilities, which I can give you some little idea of. 
 
 In the first place the climate is good; and, from the nature of the soil, which 
 is most fertile, I consider it by far the most advantageous part of the colony 
 for emigrants to settle in. All kinds of marketable produce can be raised, and 
 most of the tropical fruits will grow there, and in many instances have, to my 
 own knowledge, been cultivated with success, within a few miles from the 
 coast. 
 
 The country from the mouth of the Umcomass river west, to the Umtogala 
 east, within twenty miles of the coast, is well wooded, picturesque in appear- 
 ance, and abundantly supplied with water and grass. This part of the 
 Natal district is, in my opinion, capable of sustaining a much denser population 
 than any other part of the Natal colony, it being so well adapted for the cul- 
 tivation of cotton, grain, and any kind of vegetables. The only kind of 
 stock that thrives in that strip of country, is the small breed of Zoolu cattle; 
 the oxen of this breed are considered by far the best for work in the district. 
 
 After passing through this part of the district to the northward, the country 
 assumes quite a different appearance, you travel for miles without seeing a 
 tree,* but grass is abundant, and well adapted for cattle and horses. This 
 part is more abundantly supplied with water than any other part of Natal. 
 The farms are all well adapted for agriculture, any number of acres may be 
 irrigated; but as the frosts are sharper than on the sea coast, it is said not to 
 be quite so good for the cultivation of cotton, but better for stock. 
 
 After leaving Pietermaritzburg, and travelling towards the Drakensberg, 
 very fine forests are met with, filled with the finest timber. At the time I 
 left Natal, in 1848, the greater part of the Natal district north of Pieter- 
 maritzburg was totally unoccupied, except by a few squatting natives. The 
 whole of the country up to the Pass over the Drakensberg, “ is well adapted 
 for stock of all kinds. Very good coal is found in many places, quite close 
 on the surface” of the ground, and constantly brought to market. 
 
 The sea-port at D’Urban, Natal, is good ; and at the time I left, a brisk trade 
 was kept up with the Isle of France and Bourbon ; the cotton plantations were 
 looking splendid. 
 
 “The native population consists chiefly of refugee Zoolas, now squatted, 
 on crown land, and under British authority. At the time I was at Natal, 
 
 * It is true that one may travel in many parts of the country for considerable dis- 
 tances without seeing much wood, but still wood is always procurable, although perhaps 
 not falling under immediate observation. 
 
69 
 
 these Caffers, as they are called, were the only labourers procurable, and were 
 found in most instances honest and useful; the wages they demanded moderate, 
 and their diet simple ; the latter consists of the maize of their own growing. 
 Large quantities of this corn grown by the Caffers, are annually exported to 
 Cape Town. I think, with judicious arrangement, these Caffers may be made 
 most useful, and continue so until more effective labourers are procurable. 
 
 It is my opinion, on the whole, that Natal is the place above all others for 
 Emigrants with small capitals, for it requires, at the present time, a large 
 capital to commence any kind of farming in any other part of the Cape 
 colony. Any further information it may be in my power to give, I shall be 
 happy to afford you at a future period. Yours very truly, 
 
 Jno. CAMPBELL, 
 
 To J. S. Christopher, Esq. Capt. Mounted Rifles. 
 
 [The following is from the highly respected and Rev. Wm. Shaw, head of the 
 Wesleyan missions in South Africa, the latest report I have received, and 
 the last I need present.] 
 
 My dear Sir, Graham Town, Jan. 9, 1849. 
 
 As you have requested me to state to you my opinion of the 
 colony of Natal, with reference to its adaptation as a field of emigration or 
 otherwise, I feel pleasure in briefly conveying my views to you on this subject. 
 
 I visited Natal during the middle of last year. I entered the colony from 
 the interior regions of Africa, having crossed the Dragon’s Bergen mountains 
 from the northward, and travelled thence to Pietermaritzburg, thence to 
 D’Urban on the coast, — from D’Urban I travelled westward to the extreme 
 boundary of the colony on the Umzimkulu river, on my way through Kaffraria 
 to the Cape colony; by pursuing these routes, I traversed nearly the whole 
 length and breadth of the Natal territory, and had opportunities by my inter- 
 course with Dutch and English colonists, and also with the various classes of 
 natives, of forming my own opinion as to the country. 
 
 The greater part of the colony is extremely well adapted for agricultural 
 purposes. The soil is generally rich, the rivers and other streams are exceed- 
 ingly numerous, and in almost all parts of the country the fall of the streams 
 is so considerable, that irrigation may be carried on at a very small cost of 
 labour, and by this means, in dry seasons, (which do not occur so frequently 
 or to such an extent as in the Cape colony,) the crops never need to fail from 
 want of moisture. Indeed it is not possible to conceive of a better watered 
 country than the territory of Natal. 
 
 The coast country appears to be peculiarly well adapted for the growth of 
 the cotton plant, many varieties of which I saw in full bearing, and there is 
 little doubt but that branch of industry, if carried on by a numerous popula- 
 tion, and with spirit, would be found to be highly remunerative. 
 
 I do not regard the district within fifty miles of the coast as being adapted 
 for depasturing flocks of sheep, or herds of cattle, that portion of the colony 
 is vastly better adapted to agriculture than for gazing; but the upper districts, 
 lying northward of the capital, (Pietermaritzburg,) and up towards the base 
 of the range of mountains which form the northern boundary of the colony, 
 will in many parts be found adapted for grazing purposes, and for the growth 
 of wheat, which is apt, in the coast district, to be attacked with the blight 
 called in this colony “ the rust.” 
 
 The class of people most wanted and most likely to succeed at Natal, are 
 those who have been more or less accustomed to farming pursuits, and are not 
 
70 
 
 afraid of hard work. Of course, a population of mechanics, as masons, car- 
 penters, blacksmiths, and other useful trades, will readily find employment 
 and good wages. All these classes of persons who go to the country with 
 their minds made up to “ rough it” for a year or so, will soon find that they 
 have settled themselves in a country where honest industry, under the blessing 
 of God, will ensure to them and their families a comfortable subsistence, and 
 the progress of years would probably place many of this class of persons in 
 a position which they could never have hoped to reach had they remained in 
 England. 
 
 If a large portion of working people should emigrate to Natal, there would 
 of course be room for some capitalists, who may profitally invest their money 
 in land, which, with a proper supply of labour, would be found to give ample 
 returns, if the purchases are judiciously made, and the labour profitably 
 directed. 
 
 The natives, (Caffers, or rather Zoolus,) living within the colony, are now 
 all regarded as British subjects. They own no allegiance to the king of the 
 Zoolos, and are not on friendly terms with him. It is their interest to keep 
 on good terms with the Colonial government, as their residence within the 
 colony is their principal means of safety. Many of them will work for wages, 
 and they are a race possessing considerable physical energy, and no small 
 capacity of mind. But all native labour is unavoidably capricious, and will be 
 till Christianity shall have spread its influences among them, in consequence 
 of the various motives which, at different times, influence the great mass of 
 heathen and barbarous races of men. Most of the natives, at Natal, by 
 milking their cow’s, and raising Indian corn, and other sure crops, which the 
 ground yields abundantly with little effort, are placed beyond the influence of 
 the great stimulus of want or hunger, excepting occasionally as an incentive 
 to labour. The settlers who go to Natal should therefore calculate on doing 
 nearly all for themselves. The climate is fine, rather warm, but the country 
 is considered very healthy by the Europeans who have long resided there. 
 
 As to means of religious instruction, there are at present, at Pietermaritz- 
 burg, a Dutch Church and Wesleyan Chapel, and there will soon be an English 
 Church. There is also a Wesleyan Chapel at D’Urban. A considerable 
 number of missionaries are at present settled among the natives on the loca- 
 tions assigned by the government. The following Wesleyan Missionaries are 
 at present in the colony; — Ilev. Messrs. Davis, Holden, and Allison, with a 
 number of native teachers. 
 
 The German Missionaries are, — Revd. Mr. Dohne, now Minister of 
 the Dutch Church ; the Rev. Mr. Posselt, Minister of the German set- 
 settlement recently formed. The following are American Missionaries: — Rev. 
 Messrs. Grout, (2.) Lindley, Dr. Adams, and several others recently arrived. 
 It is understood that the Rev. Mr. Green, a Clergyman of the English Church, 
 will proceed immediately from Cape Town to Pietermaritzburg. 
 
 As there is abundance of land within the colony, without interfering with 
 the ample reserves made by the local government for the locations of the 
 natives, I cannot but express a hope that a considerable emigration may take 
 take place, of those who cannot secure their personal and family comforts in 
 England, as I am one of those who believe that, if the government maintain 
 just and equitable arrangements between the European colonists and the 
 Aborigines, — the good which will result to all classes will greatly preponderate 
 over evils, which are perhaps unavoidably incident to the early stages of colo- 
 nization in a country circumstanced as Natal is at present. 
 
 Believe me, my dear Sir, your’s very truly, 
 
 J . S. Christopher, Esq. W. SHAW, 
 
71 
 
 To complete the series of corroborating evidence respecting Natal, I will 
 adduce several public official documents. — 
 
 GOVERNMENT REPORT RESPECTING THE LANDS IN 
 NATAL, VILLAGES, &c., &c. 
 
 “ Pietermaritzburg , December 2 9th, 1847. 
 
 “ Sir, — With reference to that part of our instructions, dated 8th Decem- 
 ber, 1846, which directs us to divide the districts into magistracies, and 
 recommend sites for towns and villages in each, and to which you call our 
 attention in your letter of the 22nd November last, — 
 
 “We have the honor to submit, for the information of His Honour the 
 Lieutenant-governor, the following magistracies, into which we have thought 
 it most convenient and desirable to divide the District, accompanied by a 
 Sketch-Map, framed by the Surveyor -general, in which each division is 
 marked off and coloured, viz. : — 
 
 1st 
 
 Division 
 
 of D’Urban. 
 
 2nd 
 
 ditto 
 
 Pietermaritzburg. 
 
 3rd 
 
 ditto 
 
 Umvoti. 
 
 4th 
 
 ditto 
 
 Impafane, } Mooi and Bushman’s Rivers 
 
 5 th 
 
 ditto 
 
 Upper Tukela. 
 
 6 th 
 
 ditto 
 
 Umzinyate (Buffalo River.) 
 
 “ Our knowledge of that portion of the country to the southward of the 
 River Umkomanzi, is not yet sufficient to warrant us in entering upon its 
 division into magistracies, or recommending sites for to wns and villages. We 
 apprehend, however, it will be necessary to divide it into two additional 
 magistracies, making a total of eight divisions or magistracies in the district. 
 
 “ In selecting the boundaries, we have kept in view, as far as possible, 
 the facility of communication between the several portions of each division, 
 and especially with the site proposed for the residence of its magistrate. 
 
 “ We have divided the magistracies without reference to the boundaries of 
 the locations for the natives that have already been or still remain to be pro- 
 posed, conceiving it will be necessary, for some time to come, to keep the 
 Government of the natives distinct from the general Government of the dis- 
 trict, under laws so modified and adapted as will best suit their circumstances 
 and prejudices. 
 
 “ We now proceed to trace the boundaries of the several divisions, and to 
 offer a few observations on the general or peculiar capabilities of each as we 
 describe it, so far as we have been able to ascertain or observe them. 
 
 “ In naming the divisions we have chiefly been guided by the native name 
 of the principal river running through it. We conceive it desirable on many 
 grounds to adhere to this plan, as far as practicable. We have, however, 
 omitted giving any particular names to the sites proposed for townships and 
 villages, there being no native name denoting the several localities. 
 
 "I. DIVISION OF DURBAN. 
 
 “Bounded, south-east by the Indian Ocean; south-west, by the Umkomanzi 
 River, from the sea to a point upon said river, twenty miles from the 
 mouth ; north-west, by a line from said point to the summit of the lesser 
 Noodsberg ; north, by the crest of the lesser and greater Noodsberg, and 
 by the dividing 'ridge between the rivers Urnhlali and Umvoti, and running 
 from the greater Noodsberg to the sea. 
 
72 
 
 “ SEAT OE MAGISTRACY AND TOWNSHIP. 
 
 “ .D’Urban. 
 
 “ VILLAGES. 
 
 “ 1st. On Tongati River, above Wagon Drift. 
 
 “ 2nd. On the Umhloti River, above and below Wagon Ford. 
 
 “ 3rd. On a stream flowing into the Sterk Spruit, below the farm of that 
 
 name. . . . 
 
 “ This division is well adapted to sustain a dense population ; it includes 
 the Bay of Natal, and the township of D’Urban, the port of the district. 
 Cotton has been planted in the vicinity of the bay, and yields superior and 
 abundant produce. Sugar-cane and indigo-plants thrive there, as well as else- 
 where in the district, and the coffee-tree has lately been introduced and groAvs 
 well; but what success will attend its cultivation, will require time to show. 
 The soil is rich, and favorable to the growth of barley, oats, &c., as well as 
 beans, and most descriptions of vegetables. (Beans form a valuable article of 
 export to the Mauritius.) It is, throughout, well supplied with water ; being 
 in its present state unfit for pasture ground. It appears to us desirable that 
 the land should be laid out in small lots, in order to encourage the settler, as 
 much as possible, to cultivate it. At present only the small Zulu cattle can 
 be kept there, and those not with advantage. 
 
 “ With the exception of Mangrove, scarcely any timber adapted for build- 
 ing purposes is found in this division : in a few localities valuable waggon- 
 wood is obtained. 
 
 “ A considerable part of this division is occupied by natives, inhabiting the 
 ground apportioned for them in the Umlazi and Inanda locations, and the 
 majority of white colonists will necessarily be north of the Umgeni River, 
 where a few are already located. It is of great and immediate importance 
 that a bridge should be constructed over this river, separating, as it does, the 
 seat of magistracy and the port, not only from the most populous part of the 
 division, but from the whole of that of the Umvoti. 
 
 “ The sites above-mentioned are desirable spots for laying out villages, in 
 and around which colonists may establish themselves. 
 
 “II. DIVISION OF PIETERMARITZBURG. 
 
 “ Bounded, south-east, by north-west boundary of D’Urban ; south-west, by 
 the River Umkomanzi, from the point twenty miles from the mouth above 
 described to its source in the Kahlamba mountains or Draakenberg ; north, 
 by dividing ridge between the Impafane or Mooi river, and Umgani, to a 
 point on this ridge above the farm, ‘ Middel Hoek ; ’ thence by a line to 
 the lesser Noodsberg. 
 
 “ SEAT OF MAGISTRACY AND TOWNSHIP. 
 
 “ Pietermaritzburg. 
 
 “ VILLAGES. 
 
 “ 1st. Above the Umgani Waterval, near Alleman’s Drift, 
 
 “ 2nd. On the Umlazi river, near Van der Schyff’s Farm. 
 
 “ This division includes Pietermaritzburg, the seat of government, and 
 head-quarters of the military. 
 
 “ It is a good grazing and a superior agricultural division ; it is abundantly 
 watered, and capable of irrigation to almost any extent. Vegetation is very 
 
DURBAN, POUT NATAL, FROM THE TOP OF THE B ERE 
 
 FaMis/ird fir J- S. Cfiriji&p/ier. 
 
7 3 
 
 rapid in this, as in all the other districts, and consequently the grass grows 
 rank and strong, so as generally only to admit of the larger description of 
 stock, such as cattle and horses, being depastured upon it with advantage in 
 summer. Valuable timber, adapted for building purposes and furniture, grows 
 in several parts of this division. 
 
 “ At present, Her Majesty’s troops stationed at Pietermaritzburg, pro- 
 cure all their supplies of corn and meal from Cape Town, at a great cost 
 to the military chest. This evil may be remedied by the industrious 
 cultivation of the neighbouring farms, (which have hitherto been very gene- 
 rally neglected,) and the lands that appear to us to be available for this 
 purpose around Pietermaritzburg, which might, at some future period, be 
 marked off in lots of from 50 to 500 acres, and disposed of to practical 
 agriculturists. 
 
 “ Pietermaritzburg being the seat of government, it is of paramount im- 
 portance that bridges or other certain means of passage should be constructed 
 over the Umgeni river, so as to secure free communication as well to the 
 northern and north-western divisions of the district, as to that part of this 
 division that lies beyond the Umgeni. 
 
 “ This portion of country includes the Native location of the Zwartkop, as 
 also the one contemplated on the banks of the Unkomanzi. 
 
 “ III. DIVISION OF UMVOTI. 
 
 “ Bounded by northern boundary of the division of D’ Urban, and eastern por- 
 tion of the northern boundary of the division of Pietermaritzburg, to the 
 point where the ridge divides the sources of the Umvoti river from the 
 Impafane or Mooi river ; thence along said ridge to Tukela river ; thence 
 down said rivers to the sea: south-east, by the Indian Ocean. 
 
 “ SEAT OE MAGISTRACY AND TOWNSHIP. 
 
 “ The Umvoti Wagon Drift, high-road from Pietermaritzburg to the Zulu 
 country, via mouth of the Tukela. 
 
 “ VILLAGE. 
 
 “ Mouth of the Tukela. 
 
 “ This division comprises some of the finest land in this part of South 
 Africa, either for grazing or agricultural purposes ; the capabilities of the 
 south-eastern portion of it are similar to those of D’Urban, but cattle thrive 
 better, and the upper portion of it is considered much more favourable to the 
 grazier than the division of Pietermaritzburg ; it is abundantly supplied with 
 water, and some good timber is found on it. The laying out and making a 
 shorter road to the mouth of the Tukela from the township, is a matter of 
 importance, seeing it is the high-road from the capital of the district to the 
 Zulu country. 
 
 “ The site proposed for the township is an eligible position at which to 
 station a military force, to serve at once as a protection to that portion of the 
 district, a rallying point for the colonists and native subjects, and to impart 
 confidence, in the event of any hostile demonstration by the Zulu nation. 
 
 “The native location of the Umvoti is comprised in this division; and 
 natives, in considerable numbers, reside along its northern boundary, whose 
 location we have not as yet been enabled to report upon. 
 
 PI 
 
74 
 
 IV. DIVISION OF IMPAFANE, 
 
 “ INCLUDING MOOI AND BUSHMAN^ RIVERS. 
 
 “ Bounded, south, by northern boundary of the division of Pietermaritzburg, 
 and north-western boundary of the division of Umvoti; west, by Kahlamba 
 mountains ; and, north, by the line to be drawn along the ridge between 
 the Bluekrans and Little Tukela rivers, from the Kahlamba mountains to a 
 point between the junction of the Klip and Bluekrans rivers with the 
 Tukela ; thence down the Tukela to the northern point of the Umvoti 
 boundary. 
 
 ‘ SEAT OF MAGISTRACY AND TOWNSHIP. 
 
 “ At Bushman’s River Drift, or high-road across the Kahlamba. 
 
 “ VILLAGES. 
 
 “ Weenen and Mooi River Drift, high-road. 
 
 “ This tract of country contains land which has been the most thickly 
 populated portion of the country by the Boers, before they quitted the district, 
 and crossed the Kahlamba; and has always been regarded by them as healthier 
 for cattle than either of the three former divisions. Sheep have also thrived, 
 well in some parts of it ; and, although not generally so well watered, and, 
 therefore, perhaps not so capable of maintaining over its whole surface so 
 dense a population as the other three divisions, yet it is equally able to do so 
 in localities, and at the village of Weenen, and along the banks of the Mooi 
 River, and particularly Bushman’s River. Wheat and oats have been grown 
 largely, and with success. The soil at the village of Weenen is especially 
 fertile, excellent garden land, the vine, fruit-trees, vegetables, &c., thriving 
 well ; but the place being situated in a basin, and the approach to it on all 
 sides being by miserable roads, that will require considerable outlay and work 
 to make good, and being situated off the main road, have retarded the pros- 
 perity of the village, and will be likely to do so. Small quantities of coal, of 
 inferior quality, have been found along the banks of the Bushman’s River, 
 near the surface. Some building timber is obtained at the base of the 
 Kahlamba mountains. 
 
 “ The site recommended for a township on the Bushman’s River is well 
 adapted for the station of a military party, and to form the head-quarters of 
 the upper portion of the district ; it is sixty-three miles distant from Pieter- 
 maritzburg. There is not, however, much available government land about it. 
 
 “ An objection has been raised to this site, that the Little Bushman’s River, 
 from which the water would he led for the supply of the town, fails in very 
 dry seasons ; and another spot has been proposed in its stead, a few miles 
 lower down the river. We are not sufficiently acquainted with this site to be 
 able to report on the eligibility at present. 
 
 “ It is highly important that bridges, or other permanent means of commu- 
 nication, across the Bushman’s and Mooi Rivers, should be constructed. 
 
 " V. DIVISION OF UPPER TUKELA. 
 
 “ Bounded south, by northern boundary of Impafane; west, by the Kahlamba 
 mountains; north and east, by the Umnambili, from its source in the 
 Kahlamba to its junction with the Tukela, thence to the intersections of 
 the line defined as north boundary of the division of Impafane on the 
 Tukela. 
 
75 
 
 “ SEAT OF MAGISTRACY AND TOWNSHIP. 
 
 “ The Commando Drift of the Tukela. 
 
 “ VILLAGES. 
 
 “ At Lombaard’s Drift of the Tukela, and at Venter’s Spruit under the 
 Kahlamba. 
 
 “ Cattle thrive well in this division, and sheep in the lower part of it. Its 
 general capabilities, nature of the soil, &c., are the same as those of the 
 Impafane. Yellow wood abounds under the Kahlamba mountains, and coal 
 of a fair quality occurs in the hills on the north side of the Tukela. 
 
 “Some natives are resident under the Kahlamba: their location has not 
 yet been reported upon. 
 
 “ At Lombaard’s Drift a small party of military might be stationed with 
 advantage, as also at Venter’s Spruit, to guard Bezuidenhout’s Pass over the 
 Kahlamba, to keep up the communication with the country over the 
 Kahlamba, and road to the old Colony, via Colesberg. 
 
 "VI. DIVISION OF UMZINYATI (BUFFALO RIVER.) 
 
 “ Bounded by the Umnambili or Klip River, the Tukela Umzinyati River, 
 
 and the Kahlamba mountains. 
 
 “ SEAT OF MAGISTRACY AND TOWNSHIP. 
 
 “ A spot has been selected by the late Volks Raad, for a town on the 
 Sunday’s River, which has lately been occupied by Andries Spies, as a farm ; 
 but the disturbed state of this division prevents us from reporting definitely 
 upon the capabilities, from personal observation. 
 
 “ VILLAGE 
 
 “ Source of the Umnambili, at foot of De Beer’s Pass over the Kahlamba. 
 
 “ This division has been esteemed as particularly favourable for sheep and 
 cattle ; it has also been largely cultivated by the Boers. Anthracitic coal is 
 found near the Washbank’s and Sunday’s Rivers, and in abundance and of 
 excellent quality in the ravines between the Biggar’s Berg and the Umzinyati 
 River. Excellent timber may be obtained in this division. 
 
 “ Considerable numbers of natives are resident in the south-east portion of 
 this division : their location we have not yet been able to report upon. 
 
 “ The formation of each town and village must, of course, depend almost 
 entirely upon the nature of the ground upon which it is to be traced, and that 
 of its immediate vicinity. But it seems to us most important that each of 
 these settlements should have some means of defence within itself; — some 
 rallying point for its inhabitants and adjacent farmers, in cases of emergency ; 
 and for this purpose we would recommend that the Government should erect 
 a church, school, and magistrate’s office, with a lock-up-room, placed in a 
 defensible position ; perhaps, when the grouud will admit, which, in most 
 cases we think it will, according to one or other of the annexed plans, which 
 includes a cattle kraal in one part of the market-square, the whole to be sur- 
 rounded by a fence, and flanking enclosures, to be constructed either of stone, 
 brick, or palisades : the remaining portion of enclosures might at first be 
 made by a ditch and mud wall, to be replaced hereafter by a more durable 
 material. 
 
 “ The size of the square and dimensions of the building, &c., must, of 
 course, be regulated according to the importance of the proposed village or 
 town. 
 
“ Thus would be formed a commencement, round which the settlers might 
 gather with confidence, which we believe to be essential to the prosperity of 
 such settlements, the more particularly at their first formation ; one of them, 
 such as the Umvoti, we recommend to be established at once, by being laid 
 out and surveyed, the necessary buildings erected, and a magistrate and 
 clergyman appointed, in order to prepare the way for settlers. 
 
 “ We are of opinion that each township should have a portion of its town 
 lands appropriated to the use of such natives as are engaged in the service of 
 the inhabitants as daily labourers. The want of such an appropriation at 
 D’Urban is very seriously felt, especially by such of the inhabitants as are 
 engaged in the shipping business ; and we beg to recommend that at this, as 
 well at the other established townships, such appropriations be at once 
 made. 
 
 “ We do not at present anticipate that any difficulty will arise from the 
 necessity of compensating any claims to the lands suggested as the sites for 
 towns and villages, as the sites recommended do not interfere with any lands 
 now occupied. And the details of compensating the claimants of unoccupied 
 lands, as well as of the extent of land available for dense population around 
 its township, and of the number of emigrants that may be accommodated in 
 and around each town, will form the subject of future inquiry. 
 
 “Having thus endeavoured to comply- with His Honour’s instructions, to 
 the extent of our ability, it now only remains for us to offer such observations 
 upon the present state and future prospects of this district, as well as its 
 general capabilities, as appear to us desirable, in order that the Lieutenant- 
 governor may have before him all the information we are capable of imparting, 
 while deliberating on the important subjects so slightly sketched in this 
 Report. 
 
 “ The continued emigration of the Boers from this district to the country 
 beyond the boundaries, that has been going on ever since it was taken pos- 
 session of in 1842, by her Majesty’s troops, has, as is well known, almost 
 denuded it of its white inhabitants, and discouraged the few that remain. It 
 is also evident that there is no prospect of filling up any portion of it with 
 Boers, and little by any removals from the old Colony ; the only effective 
 remedy to this evil appears to us to consist in an extensive emigration from the 
 United Kingdom : without this the resources of the district, confessedly great, 
 and in our opinion equal, if not superior, to any other British Colony, both as 
 respects fertility of soil and abundance of water, will remain undeveloped. 
 
 “ The climate is most healthy, and subject to none of the epidemics that are 
 incidental to other parts of Africa. 
 
 “ By emigrants we would be understood to imply not so much of an exclu- 
 sively labouring population, as practical farmers, possessed of small capital, 
 say £200 to £500. Men of this class could bring out their own labourers ; 
 and as an encouragement for them to do so, we would recommend that they 
 should receive an equivalent in land, to the amount they have necessarily ex- 
 pended in the outfit and passage of themselves, families, and servants. An 
 arrangement of this nature would enable a man possessing capital to the extent 
 we have mentioned, to commence farming with advantage, the moment of his 
 arrival in the district ; while, without it, the means of a most valuable class of 
 Colonists would be swallowed up in expenses, and upon their landing here, 
 emigrants with limited capital, would find themselves very little better off than 
 before they left their native land. 
 
 '‘Could the fertility of the country, and salubrity of its climate be pointed 
 oat, together with advantages such as those we have mentioned, we doubt not 
 numbers of the class we allude to, would be found willing, and even anxious 
 
77 
 
 to avail themselves of the facilities which this district in particular promises to 
 emigrants. 
 
 “ Any delay occurring in their obtaining suitable land immediately on their 
 arrival, would of course prove fatal to the success of the undertaking. To 
 obviate such a misfortune, we would recommend that a considerable number 
 of plots of ground he surveyed and ready for selection by the emigrants, and 
 that every facility be afforded them immediately to obtain the spots thus 
 chosen, either by public sale or otherwise, as shall be deemed most advisable 
 by His Honour the Lieutenant-governor. 
 
 “ By a more extensive emigration than this appears to contemplate, or rather 
 by the simultaneous emigration of persons sufficient in number, and suitable in 
 character for forming communities of themselves, the towns and villages might 
 be peopled, and the adjacent lands brought under cultivation. After a few of 
 these shall be thus established, the remaining intervals of country will speedily 
 be filled up, and the more so when each township shall be provided with its 
 magistrate, minister of religion, the requisite public buildings, and the means 
 of defence. 
 
 “ Most of the associations connected, in the mind of an European, with 
 the name of Kaffir, have been formed upon the represented bad character and 
 conduct of the nation so called, now engaged in a serious aud expensive war 
 with the old Colony; and are consequently highly unfavorable to any people 
 bearing a name which, by common consent, attributes all the cunning faith- 
 lessness of the savage, with an admixture of many of the depravities of civi- 
 lized life to its bearer. 
 
 “ In our Report of the 30th of March last, we pointed out the peculiar 
 position and character of the natives inhabiting the district; it will, there- 
 fore, be unnecessary for us to say more on this, than that they are widely dif- 
 ferent from, those on the frontier of the old Colony, and are valuable and indis- 
 pensable assistants to the white settler. We take occasion to make these 
 remarks, because we are of opinion that when the recommendations we have 
 made in our General Report shall have been carried out, the presence of so 
 many natives, most of them available as labourers, should be an inducement 
 to emigrants selecting this district as the land of their adoption, rather than 
 operate prejudicially. 
 
 “ The future prospects of the district of Natal, as a Colony, depend very 
 materially, if not exclusively, upon the fitting up of the unoccupied intervals 
 of the district with emigrants from the United Kingdom, and the efficient 
 management and control of the native population within it. Its general capa- 
 bilities, as we have already represented , are of the highest class, either for 
 agricultural or grazing purposes. It contains an area of eighteen thousand 
 square miles, within which is found every material for improvement and pros- 
 perity a Colony can be favored with, and requires but an intelligent white 
 population to develope its immense and fertile resources. 
 
 “Building-stone, of a very good quality, is found all over its surface; and 
 in some localities a superior description of free-stone is found in abundance. 
 Iron ore is found in great abundance in the district, and has been used by the 
 natives for their assagais and agricultural implements, and is said to be of a 
 very superior quality. 
 
 “ The prices realized in England for the first exportation of cotton grown in 
 this district, exhibited under all the disadvantageous circumstances connected 
 with the utter inexperience on the part of the grower, of sevenpence farthing 
 per pound, warrants an inference highly favourable to the quality of the 
 article, when it shall have received the treatment that experience has taught 
 to be necessary in cotton-growing countries. 
 
78 
 
 “We are of opinion that this district, inhabited by an industrious white 
 population will produce valuable exports, both in amount and quality, and is 
 capable of maintaining a denser population than the colony of the Cape of 
 Good Hope; and we trust that its resources and advantages may not become 
 lost to the subjects of the British crown, from their not being represented as 
 their high merits appear to us to deserve. 
 
 “The Surveyor-general, it will be observed, has not been able to do more 
 than compile a mere sketch of the district, the general accuracy of which only 
 can be relied upon. We regret that no general survey has yet taken place, as 
 it is obviously of the highest importance that an accurate Map of the district 
 should exist. 
 
 “ Having as Commissioners, been called upon to recommend the boundaries 
 of the several divisions of this district, we severely felt the difficulty arising 
 from the absence of a correct survey to guide us, and we feel called upon 
 strongly to recommend the completion of one as soon as possible. 
 
 “ We have the honour to be. Sir, 
 
 “ Your most obedient Servants, 
 “Wm. STANGER, Surveyor-general, 
 
 “ T. SHEPSTONE, Diplomatic Agent. 
 “C. J. GIBB, Lieut. R. E ” 
 
 [The account of the divissions in the Map numbered from 7 to 12, are derived 
 
 from Mr. Greaves, Government Surveyor ; and other authorities.] 
 
 GEOLOGY OF NATAL. 
 
 By The Honourable Wm. Stanger, Surveyor-general. 
 
 “ The Maps which have hitherto been published of this portion of south- 
 eastern Africa appear to be very erroneous. The one by Arrowsmith, which 
 is considered to be compiled from the best authorities, represents the north- 
 western portion of the Draakberg Mountains, about seventy miles too much 
 to the east, and the course of the rivers are incorrectly laid down. All other 
 Maps are evidently copied from this, and contain the same errors. 
 
 Wyld is the only publisher who inserts Pietermaritzburg at all ; but he ap- 
 pears to be a little out in longitude; his latitude is, however right. 
 
 “ In this Report I shall not enter fully into the geography of the interior of 
 the district, reserving that for a future time, as I shall have a good opportunity 
 of continuing the same kind of observations, and thus fixing more points than 
 at present I have been able to do, during the proposed enquiry, as to the loca- 
 tion of the natives; but shall describe, as far as 1 am able, the boundary and 
 extent of the district of Natal. 
 
 “The Umzinyati rises at the base of the Draakberg, in latitude 27° 46' and 
 longitude 20° 25'; from this its course is about E.S.E., until it falls into the 
 Utukela (incorrectly called the Tukela.) From all the information I can 
 obtain, (not having yet visited this part of the district) this is below the con- 
 fluence of the Mooi River and the Utukela. and therefore not very far from 
 the mouth of the latter, which from the Maps appears to be in latitude 29° 
 16' S. and longitude 31° 30' E. ; thus forming the north-eastern boundary of 
 the district. 
 
 “The country below the rise of the Umzinyati, and for the distance of about 
 twenty miles, is for the most part flat and undulating, with little or no wood, 
 but covered with sweet grass, and from what I can ascertain is considered a 
 good tract for country sheep. 
 
 “ The river when I saw it (in February last) was about sixty yards wide, it 
 
79 
 
 being then full of water; below this, and during its whole course, I understand 
 it runs through a broken and thick bushy country. 
 
 “ The Draakberg, instead of being considered as one continuous chain of 
 mountains, may be more correctly divided into two, of different geological 
 structure, and having different directions : the one forming the north-western 
 boundary, I shall call the Great Draakberg; and the other, forming the west- 
 ern boundary, the Small Draakberg. 
 
 “ The north-western portion of the Draakberg is of the average altitude of 
 five thousand feet above the sea, and about fifteen hundred feet above the 
 general level of the country at its base. 
 
 “The outline is in general round and soft, presenting some remarkable 
 features, and occasionally high table-lands with precipitous sides. These 
 mountains are composed of beds of sandstone cut through by veins of trap, 
 and diminish in height as they advance to the north-east, until at some 
 distance beyond the source of the Umzinyati they appear to terminate in low 
 hills. They are passable almost at any part by horses and cattle; but there 
 are only three passes in use by the boers, one near Bezuidenhout’s Farm, in 
 latitude 28° 33' S. and longitude 28° 44' E; and one at De Beer’s, in latitude 
 58° 20' S. and longitude 28° 52' E; and another a little more to the south- 
 west of Bezuidenhout’s. The two former are in constant use; the latter 
 rarely. 
 
 “ Timber abounds in the kloofs on the south-eastern side of the mountain. 
 On the north-west the country is much higher, being a plain of great ele- 
 vation . 
 
 “The Great Draakberg, or that portion of it which forms the western 
 boundary, has a direction N.N. W. and S,S.E. The junction of this with the 
 former, or small Draakberg, is ten or twelve miles to the S.W. of Benzuiden- 
 hout’s Pass: from this part the Utukela rises. 
 
 “ These mountains are much higher than the others, and are quite 
 impassable, presenting a rugged outline and bold and precipitous escarpe- 
 ments. From a distant view, from the nature of the outline (not having been 
 near them) I infer that they are granitic. 
 
 “ The area of this district from the ascertained and assumed boundaries will 
 be much greater than has hitherto been supposed. It cannot, I imagine, be 
 less than 13,500 instead of 10,000 square miles. At the same time it must 
 be remembered, that if I find by future observations, (which I think will very 
 probably be the case) the same amount of error, and in the same direction in 
 the southern portion of the district, of which at present I know nothing, as I 
 have found in the northern, the area will be increased by a great quantity, and 
 may not fall far short of 16,000 square miles, as a small deviation in the 
 assigned direction of the Great Draakberg will easily make that quantity. 
 
 “ The district is everywhere covered with vegetation, either in the form of 
 luxuriant grass, which grows to a great height, or thorns and low bushes. 
 Timber trees only grow in kloofs on sides of hills, excepting a belt which runs 
 along the sea- coast. 
 
 “ Water abounds in every part, and flowing streams cross the path at 
 intervals of only a few miles. In the winter some of these become dry, but 
 then water may always be obtained at moderate distances. 
 
 “ The soil is in all cases well adapted for cultivation, and on the alluvial 
 lands near rivers particularly so, producing much larger crops than are ever 
 grown in the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope. 
 
 “ The rocks which occur in the district, as far as I have yet seen, are 
 granite, basalt, and members of the trap family, slate, sandstone, and shale. 
 
 “ Granite abounds in the kloofs and valleys, which are crossed by the road 
 
80 
 
 from Pietermaritzburg to D’Urban, about twenty-six miles from the latter 
 place; and I should think it also enters into the structure of the Great 
 Draakberg. 
 
 “ Basalt, greenstone, porphyritic and compact felspar, cut through the 
 sandstone and shale in many places, and sometimes form stony ridges extend- 
 ing along the surface of the country for a great distance, and at other times 
 small hills. 
 
 “ Slate of a friable kind, which falls to pieces on exposure to the 'weather, 
 occurs around the town of Pietermaritzburg, and is used as building stone by 
 the inhabitants. I also found this rock underlying shale, near the Umzinyati. 
 I have never found any fossils in this rock ; but I imagine it belongs to the 
 upper silurian series. 
 
 “ Sandstone and shale are the prevailing rocks in the northern portion of 
 the district. The sandstone which forms the hills immediately to the north- 
 west of Pietermaritzburg is an excellent building stone, which works well 
 under the chisel, and can be obtained in large masses. 
 
 “ Coal containing but little bituminous matter occurs in beds in the sand- 
 stone. In a kloof near the drift of the Bushman’s River, there is a bed nine 
 inches thick. This is the nearest locality I am aware of to Pietermaritzburg: 
 it is distant about sixty-three miles. It is more abundant to the north-west, 
 and I observed it in a small river near Biggar’s Berg, in about latitude 28° 7' 
 S., and longitude 29° 25' E., in a bed six feet thick, and of good quality; it is 
 here cut through by a vein of trap. 
 
 “ Fossil silicified dicotyledonous wood is found on the surface of the 
 country throughout the whole of the north-western portion of the district, 
 and I have found it imbedded in the sandstone. 
 
 “ Small concretionary masses of lime and sand occur in the subsurface soil 
 in most parts of the district; these may be burnt into lime.” 
 
 Sir P. Maitland, the late Governor of the Cape, expresses himself in a 
 despatch addressed to Lord Stanley, then Colonial Secretary, as follows : — 
 
 “ I submit to your Lordship that it would be highly desirable to promote 
 the emigration to Natal of Europeans possessed of some amount of capital, 
 and able to buy and cultivate the farms. The district has far greater agri- 
 cultural capabilities than this Colony; a better supply of water, rich soil, less 
 barren rock, and less encumbrances of bush. Its climate also is favourable; and 
 I believe, on the whole, it is of a nature amply to repay the middle class 
 emigrant for his outlay and labour ; while the numerous natives settled upon 
 the land, who are generally of a docile character, would supply abundance of 
 labour for the cultivation of the soil.” 
 
 The Lieutenant-governor, Mr. West, in speaking of its capability of 
 producing cotton, in a dispatch addressed to the Governor of the Cape of 
 Good Hope, dated August 19th, 1847, says: — 
 
 “ I beg to state that I am glad to be able to report that there appears to be 
 no doubt whatever that there is a great extent of disposable land in tiiis district, 
 well suited for the production of cotton. 
 
 “ I am also of opinion, that in the present state of this district and its 
 population, every proper encouragement should be given by Her Majesty’s 
 Government to undertakings calculated to call forth the resources of the soil 
 and the industry of the inhabitants, and especially to increase the number of 
 the civilized inhabitants.” 
 
81 
 
 Sir Harry Smith after visiting Natal, reports to Earl Grey as follows: 
 
 “ This district embraces a most beautiful country, strongly undulating, and 
 intersected by many streams, whose waters never fail. The land in many 
 parts is rich and fertile beyond description, capable of producing cotton, 
 tobacco, and I think, indigo, as the latter plant in its wild state abounds. 
 ******** 
 
 “ It possesses every advantage of climate; the land is most extensive and 
 fertile, capable of producing cotton, indigo, and tobacco ; wonderfully well 
 watered, and possessing rich coal-mines ; and I venture to predict, that, 
 although its circumstances are for the moment depressed, and its finances 
 exhausted, it will in time become one of Her Majesty’s most valuable posses- 
 sions. The treasury for the present requires assistance, for no settlement has 
 ever jumped into maturity. Exertion must be made to increase its white 
 population, as any contribution to the treasury on the part of the located 
 
 natives is remote, and not to be calculated on. 
 
 ******** 
 
 “ The vast extent of country in this part of the world totally void of 
 inhabitants is incredible. I therefore recommenced that the settlement be 
 maintained, to which the liberal steps which I have adopted, as to land, for 
 one year, will contribute. Another great reason for our occupying it is, that 
 if we do not, some other nation will, and a breach of faith would thus be 
 committed toward those who have embarked their capital on the understanding 
 of the permanency of its possession. 
 
 “ The sale of land adds for the day to the revenue; but it is to its occu- 
 pation, and the labour bestowed upon it, that the prosperity of this or any 
 other settlement is to be attained. The treasury must therefore be assisted 
 for a short time ; and again I venture to predict, that Natal will become 
 important and valuable if the fostering hand of Government be extended 
 towards it.” 
 
 In another dispatch he says, “ In this vast district, there is space for 
 a population of millions.” 
 
 T. F. Elliot, Esq., Colonial Assistant Under Secretary of State, on evidence 
 before the House of Lords, 9th of March, 1848, “ Colonization from Ireland,” 
 is asked — 
 
 “ Have you turned your attention to the capability of the Natal territory 
 becoming a mode of providing for emigrants?” and he answers. 
 
 “ I have paid some attention to the Natal territory. The country was first 
 reached by the Dutch boers, who emigrated from the old parts of the Colony, 
 and arrived overland. They had extremely difficult mountains to cross, but 
 when they did get into Natal, they found themselves in a country abounding 
 with wood and water, and having a very fertile soil, and a most delightful 
 climate. It seems to possess almost every attraction that can be desired, 
 except one, which is that of a commodious and large harbour : but I under- 
 stand that the Colonists who take an interest in the place are in great hopes 
 that it can be improved, and rendered convenient for shipping.” 
 
 Page 69. “Are the natural productions of the Natal territory such as to 
 give every indication of its future capacity for agricultural improvement?” 
 
 “ I think there is promise that the district will be capable of growing every 
 useful product ; but, above all, those who have already visited the territory, 
 in its prosperity, believe that it may become very available for the growth of 
 cotton. Some specimens have been sent to England, which have been judged 
 favourably in the manufacturing districts.” 
 
82 
 
 “Has any experiment been yet tried to show its power and applicability for 
 the production of wheat?” 
 
 “ Some of the local reports speak of their having grown fine crops.” 
 
 Earl Grey, on different occasions, has made the following remarks respecting 
 Natal. 
 
 “ The disposition to be satisfied with ‘ having a sufficiency to eat and time 
 to sleep,’ which you describe as prevailing amongst the Zulus, is that which 
 almost universally distinguishes uncivilized men, and is the origin of the diffi- 
 culty which you point out, of obtaining Zulu labor for the cultivation of 
 cotton. But when the Zulus find themselves under the necessity of working, 
 they will gradually acquire habits of industry; hence will spring a steady 
 supply of labour, and Natal will become a more favourable field for the enter- 
 prise of Europeans, more especially for the cultivation of cotton, which it is so 
 important a national object to encourage.” 
 
 “ Nor could I without the greatest reluctance abandon the hope which the 
 communications received from Natal appear to me to justify, that this settle- 
 ment may be the centre whence the blessings of civilization and Christianity 
 may be extensively diffused amongst the numerous but barbarous population 
 of south-eastern Africa. 
 
 If I may credit the accounts before me, (speaking of Natal,) a region of 
 the earth among the richest that are known in natural resources cannot become 
 civilized and iudustrious British subjects without adding to the strength and 
 greatness of the empire, and creating a new field for commercial enterprise, and 
 a new demand for our manufactures . 
 
 Letter to the Editor of the Manchester Guardian by an experienced Colonist. 
 
 Sea Island Plantation, 12 miles from Port D’Urban, 
 Port Natal, South Africa, April, 1849. 
 
 Sir, — As Natal seems to be attracting some attention in England, perhaps 
 a few lines from a cotton-planter and former fellow-townsman may interest 
 some of your readers. As I write for the guidance of intending emigrants, a 
 little detail may be useful. 
 
 Parties intending to visit this country should sail direct from London, and 
 not land at the Cape, and thus avoid the expense of re-shipping at the Cape, 
 and injury by the removal of their goods from one vessel to another. Cabin 
 passage from the Cape to Natal is £10; steerage £5; the distance is about 
 1000 miles, and is performed in from eight to twenty days. 
 
 The implements necessary to be brought out are, a plough, harrow, and 
 spades. Ploughs and harrows should be of the very strongest description, the 
 thick grass roots and stumps of trees breaking those of ordinary construction. 
 Eight oxen are used to one plough; this will give a practical farmer some idea 
 of the strain a plough or harrow is required to sustain. The price of draught 
 oxen varies from <£3 to £3 15s. per head A Kaffir leader leads the fore oxen, 
 and a driver (a Kaffir or Hottentot) with a long whip, walks alongside the 
 oxen Kaffirs receive 5s. per month, w'ith Indian corn for food. A Kaffir 
 driver receives 10s. per month, and a Hottentot from 20s. to 25s. per month. 
 A white ploughman’s wages are from £2 10s. to £3 per month, with board 
 and lodging. All ploughs should have a wheel, the line of draught being lower 
 with oxen. The plough buries itself without a wheel. I have no prepossession 
 in favour of wheels, having previously ploughed without them, but with horses. 
 Oxen require no corn, and subsist solely on grass. 
 
83 
 
 People of capital coming out here, as cotton-planters or farmers, should bring 
 a Scotch cart, as they are not to be obtained here, except at an exorbitant 
 rate: they sell for £25, sometimes £30. A strong waggon in general use costs 
 from £60 to £75; to these fourteen oxen are used, as the country is exceed- 
 ingly hilly. It would surprise an European how oxen could overcome such 
 difficult roads. 
 
 The thermometer varies from 65 to 85 in the shade. We have no frost on 
 the coast. Sixty miles in the interior, slight frosts occasionally occur in winter, 
 at Pietermaritzburg, which is the above distance from the coast. The gardens 
 are hedged with fig trees and pomegranates. Oranges, lemons, and peaches 
 are abundant. Wheat is said to be grown in the neighbourhood of the above 
 town; but none is produced near the coast, — those who have tried it complain 
 of the rust. Sheep do not live on the coast-lands, though I have seen them 
 on farms near Pietermaritzburg. Horses and cattle also thrive better in the 
 interior; the ticks, on the coast, are troublesome to both, though my own horse, 
 living within one mile and a half of the sea, has never been sick, and the oxen, 
 being accustomed to the coast, are quite healthy. 
 
 Cattle farmers should go into the interior, the coast-lands being peculiarly 
 adapted for cotton: either coarse or fine cotton thrives equally well. I enclose 
 you a sample of the finest Sea Island, which I planted last October, and, in- 
 deed, the best quality grown in the colony. The plants are bowed to the ground 
 with the weight of the pods, and give promise of an abundant crop. 
 
 Cotton would be much more extensively cultivated if agents possessing ca- 
 pital here would purchase at a remunerating price. There has been but one 
 purchaser, who has only given one penny per pound for cotton in the seed, 
 and who has ginned and shipped it to England. This is only equal to three- 
 pence per pound for clean cotton, a price which offers little inducement to 
 planters. Many who planted a little at first, have abandoned the planting 
 altogether, and will not trouble themselves with picking what they have 
 already planted. They do not possess sufficient capital to ship on their own 
 account, or wait so long for a return from Europe. Until this evil be remedied, 
 
 I fear that there is no reason to expect a large supply of cotton from Natal. 
 
 The objection to the colour (yellowness) of Natal cotton can be easily reme- 
 died by growing good white Orleans; the 18,000 lb. sent recently by Messrs. 
 Bergtheil & Co. is of a beautiful colour, and of as pure a white as any Orleans 
 sent to your market, and the manager of Messrs. Bergtheil’s plantation states 
 it to be exceedingly productive and easily picked. I have planted about twenty ✓ 
 acres of white Orleans cotton. 
 
 Pine- apples are abundant, and grow with no other attention but clearing 
 from weeds. Orange trees and lemons grow rapidly. Potatoes and beans are 
 planted in the beginning of winter. 
 
 Beef sells from 2d. to 2^d. per lb.; raw coffee, 8d.; sugar, 6d., by the bag, 
 
 29s. per 1001b.; flour, 30s. per 1001b.; butter, Is. per lb.; rice, 25s. to 30s. 
 per 1801b.; a heifer, 20s. ; a cow, £3 ; horses, £12 to £15 ; land, from 5s. to 
 40s. ; though 40 or 50 miles from the port, from 2s. upwards per acre ; fowls, 
 
 2d. to 3d. each. 
 
 Land intended for cotton requires twice ploughing, and, in some instances, 
 three times. 
 
 The coast lands generally abound with bush ; a few miles from the coast, 
 say eight or ten miles, the country is clothed with grass, and bush is not so 
 plentiful. 
 
 A range of hills, generally covered with bush, running parallel with the 
 coast, consisting of a red sandy soil, and very deep, is considered the best for 
 cotton. My finest Sea Island is grown on these hills. The flats are gener- 
 
84 
 
 ally of a black soil, mixed with sand, and covered with grass. Small rivers 
 supply abundance of water. Cabbages, turnips, and radishes, are liable to 
 suffer from insects. The Kaffirs cultivate tobacco for their own use, which 
 they manufacture into snuff. Havannah and Virginia tobacco are also grown 
 without difficulty. 
 
 Lands near the coast bear a higher price than in the interior. I have visited 
 America twice, and resided there eight years. I have travelled through the 
 greatest part of continental Europe, including Italy, and in my humble opinion, 
 none of these countries will bear a comparison with Natal. With a climate 
 far superior to Italy, invalids labouring under or suffering from pulmonary 
 complaints, would find more relief from visiting Natal, than spending a winter 
 in Rome, where the nights are frequently piercingly cold, as compared with 
 the blazing heat of noon-day. Here is to be found room enough for your 
 starving thousands, in a climate where the natives only need a sheet to cover 
 them at night. 
 
 A duty of five per cent, chargeable on imports of British manufactures ; 
 Foreign, twelve per cent. A ridiculous impost of £10 is charged on parties 
 trading with sheets, blankets, &c. into the Zoola country, which on £50 worth 
 of Manchester cotton sheets, amounts to 20 per cent., 5 per cent, import 
 duty, makes 22^ per cent., and that for trading in a country over which our 
 government has no control. A strange method of encouraging British ma- 
 nufactures in a British colony. This must have the effect of driving trade into 
 the hands of the Portuguese, by way of Delagoa Bay. This is worthy the 
 attention of your Chamber of Commerce, and affords a sad specimen of the 
 manner in which our colonies are governed. 
 
 I am. Sir, 
 
 Your’s obediently, 
 
 John Galloway. 
 
 TOWNS. 
 
 The key to this delightful land is a harbor, the appearance of which is 
 represented in the engraving at the commencement of the work. 
 
 DURBAN. 
 
 Of the town the Rev. Mr. Archhell says “Port Natal, now called ‘D’Urban, 
 in honor of Sir Benjamin D’Urban, possesses advantages which cannot be 
 described in too striking colors. The contiguity to the Bay, its superabundance 
 of fuel as well as large timber, its inexhaustible supply of water from four 
 rivers, one of which has ten times more than supplies the whole of Cape Town 
 (with 25,000 inhabitants,) all point out the great importance of the locality. 
 Two of these rivers run into the Bay, and a third (the Umlazi) within four 
 miles of its margin. The stream of this river is considerable, and may be 
 conducted over a rich and fertile flat leading to the present town and Bay. 
 The Umgani, whieh nature seems to have designed for supplying the town, 
 can be led out without difficulty, and by little more than opening a furrow, 
 will flow through the streets with a current equal to the utmost demands that 
 can possibly be made upon it. 
 
 Upon reference to the Nautical Directions for entering the Harbor and a 
 comparison with Dampier’s account of it in the year 1684, the quantity of 
 water on the Bar appears to have undergone little change. Vessels drawing 
 
85 
 
 ten feet of water with a leading wind, can safely enter the Harbor at all times 
 of tide. At high water there is from thirteen to fifteen feet of water; and 
 there is no doubt that with a steam tug and a dredging machine that fifteen 
 feet of water and double the present width might always be found in the 
 channel. This being done a finer harbor could not exist. In confirmation of 
 this the following is taken from the “ Natal Witness,” published in the 
 colony, 
 
 “On Saturday last the Bar was sounded by the Port Cajotain, and at half- 
 tide twelve feet of water was found. This clearly proves our Bar is not so 
 dangerous as has been represented ; for even six days previous to full moon 
 this quantity of water was found at half-tide. What then would be the case 
 on the full and change, and high tides ? We should say sufficient to bring over 
 vessels of large burden; and a small outlay of capital judiciously employed is 
 all that is required to prove our Harbor can be entered with the greatest 
 safety.” 
 
 Since that the barque Gualior, of 405 tons, has been to Natal : — upon which 
 the same paper remarks — 
 
 “ The direct trader and passenger ship Gualior, 405 tons, arrived off the bar 
 on the 25th ultimo, came in the next day, discharged her cargo, took in cattle, 
 and sailed on the 12th instant. This vessel draws twelve feet, and came in 
 and went out in style, on the latter occasion at three-quarters flood.” 
 
 With regard to the Bar, a correspondent states, — “ The continuous great 
 depth on the Bar has beyond a doubt been caused by the extra water that 
 flowed into the Bay on the flooding of the Umgani last year. If this really be 
 the case, is it unreasonable to call upon Government to consider seriously the 
 expediency so often suggested of turning the Umgani through the flat into the 
 Harbor The Captain of the John Stewart, 198 tons, belonging to Aber- 
 deen, took me from Algoa Bay to Natal. We hugged the coast going up, and 
 being able to see the land well, he remarked that it must be a fine country; 
 but when the pilot took the vessel into the inner harbor next morning he was 
 delighted and said “ This will become the Capital of South Africa. It is now 
 what Aberdeen was before the harbor was improved. It will be a splendid 
 place.” 
 
 Monsieur Delagorgue the famous French traveller in Natal, (who was in the 
 country from 1838 to 1844,) says in his “ Voyage dans L’Afrique Australe,” 
 “ Port Natal is a beautiful and vast port of a circular form, wanting in dopth, 
 adorned by two small verdant islands on its bosom. A natural canal visible 
 at low water leads from the point to Congella, a village three miles distant. 
 Vessels may lay here as on a basin. It would be easy to make a wet dock of 
 the entire port, to erect a tidal lock, which acting at low water would open a 
 deep passage over the bar. 
 
 “ The population is at present too feeble, and its commerce is of too little 
 importance at present to attempt such important works ; yet I venture to pre- 
 dict that this port is destined by its position and form to become the most 
 safe, and the most important in South Africa.” 
 
 Thus this impartial Foreign authority expressed himself in May 1839, — 
 and it will be a great reflection if the government should lose any time in 
 improving such a valuable position, destined with common encouragement to 
 become the most important place between Cape Horn and India; — and, as a 
 Natalian, I would at once say, give us the representative principle to controul 
 the expenditure, and we will do it at our own expense ; or at least we will 
 pay the interest for the money required regularly out of the revenue, and the 
 principal also in four years. 
 
 D’Urban now contains about 500 inhabitants, but has not a municipality. 
 The consequence is that the streets are sadly neglected. After rain they are 
 
86 
 
 better than when dry. The ground is sand, without a stone being laid upon 
 it. A road rate should be collected, and the streets improved. 
 
 The streets were laid out by the Dutch farmers at right angles, with mar- 
 ket-square, &c. Town lots £100 each may be had from Government. The 
 town is a full mile from the anchorage for the sake of water, but no doubt 
 water will shortly be carried to the landing place. But for a difficulty by no 
 means insuperable, the Umgani in a large stream would ’ere this have been 
 conducted close to every one’s door, and it is to be hoped that Government 
 will go on with it, or lay down pipes which may be safer, as in rainy seasons 
 damage might be done if the whole stream were brought over a sandy flat. 
 The streets are wide, to admit of extensive waggon traffic. A new Custom 
 House is building, an Episcopal Church, and a new Wesleyan Chapel. The 
 Bay, with islands in the centre, is very beautiful at high water, and indeed at 
 all times. It is well stocked with fish, and crabs are very abundant and nu- 
 merous in species. The whole commerce of Natal must go through this port, 
 as well as that to the Zoolu Country, and also a considerable portion of that 
 with the Dutch farmers over the Drakenberg and beyond the Orange River, 
 together amounting to about £90,000. 
 
 A newspaper was lately published in D’Urban, but irregularity in its 
 appearance caused it to be dropped. There is room for a good paper, and 
 printing generally. This place is 48 miles from the capital Pietermaritzburg. 
 The road is good. The view of Port Natal from the Berea hills is one of the 
 most enchanting scenes in nature. 
 
 PIETERMARITZBURG, 
 
 The residence of the Governor and all the officials, except the Collector of 
 Customs. The site was selected and laid out by the Dutch. All the streets 
 are at right angles on a grand scale. It was described by the celebrated Com- 
 mandant A. W. I. Pretorius in a letter to a friend in 1839, as follows : — 
 
 “ Pietermaritzburg, a large, pleasant, and well watered town, begins daily 
 to raise its head above the surrounding hillocks. 300 beautiful erven (sections) 
 have already been given out, surveyed, and partly planted. This town is si- 
 tuated on the lower part of the Stinkhout Berg, distant about 50 miles from 
 the Bay ; has a picturesque site, and combines all the advantages of nature as 
 well as of local situation, making so fine a prospect that I know of nothing 
 similar to it in the colony. The growth of plants is so rapid that melies, 
 (Indian corn) as well as Pumpkins, can be harvested in abundance throughout 
 the year, and I have no doubt that all garden-seeds will thrive equally well 
 here; so that although our Wheat harvest has failed, and much loss has been 
 sustained in cattle and horses by death, along the sea- coast in the vicinity of 
 the bay ; we can nevertheless not too much adore the Omnipotent arm of a 
 merciful God for what he has left to us, which is at present in the best con- 
 dition. The cattle, particularly those coming from the Oliphant’s Hock and 
 other places along the coast, thrive better than those coming from Graff 
 Reinett and other inland places.” 
 
 The Commissioner, Mr. Cloete, describes Pietermaritzburg as laid out in the 
 from of a parallelogam, extending about a mile and a half in length, and a 
 mile in breadth; divided by nine parallel streets 75 feet in width, and inter- 
 sected at right angles by five streets of equal width, in which nearly 500 town 
 allotments were marked out, being 450 in length by 150 in breadth, com- 
 prising nearly one acre of ground each. Of these lots, 460 were in the years 
 1839 and 1840, either granted to the first emigrants that arrived, or afterwards 
 sold, varying from £4 to £8 each. The price is now very different. 
 
 Since that date the Colony has come into our possession, but most of the 
 
87 
 
 Dutch have left, and although it has been progressing, still nothing nearly to 
 the same extent as under the Dutch management. Extensive barracks have 
 been built; but had we treated them properly, both army and barracks would 
 have been unnecessary. The distance from the barracks to the lower end of 
 the town is about a mile and a quarter. They stand on a hill of gradual as- 
 cent at the upper end of the town, which has a slope of about 40 feet. Water 
 is conducted through every street on each side, so that every house is supplied 
 and every garden may be irrigated. The water never fails in the driest season. 
 There is a commodious Church, which is fully attended. After the Dutch 
 morning service it has very kindly been lent to the English for service. This 
 hitherto has been performed by a Wesleyan minister reading the Church of 
 England Service, afterwards delivering a sermon. A large Government School 
 has just been finished, and here, temporarily, the Colonial chaplain lately ap- 
 pointed now performs service, until a Church can be built. A new Wesleyan 
 Chapel, red brick and Gothic style, has just been opened. The education 
 bestowed in the Government School will be of the most liberal character, and 
 the charge about four guineas per annum. The population of Pietermaritz- 
 burg now amounts to about 1500, exclusive of the military. A Government 
 Gazette is published here, also a weekly newspaper, which is very well con- 
 ducted. There is a spacious market-place; but whereas when the Dutch were 
 in possession, there were from four to fourteen waggons a day with produce, 
 now there are not that number in a month. We 4iave driven away our good 
 customers into the wilderness. There is a respectable Court House in the 
 market-square. 
 
 WEENEN. 
 
 This village on the Bushman’s River contains about 800 inhabitants, prin- 
 cipally Dutch. It is situated in a valley a little off the main road; but the 
 neighbourhood is fertile, good for culture, cattle and sheep. Coal is in the 
 neighbourhood in extensive beds and near the surface, of fair quality. Some 
 resembles Anthracite and Cannel, and there is some nearly as good as good 
 Newcastle. It is frequently found in layers of sandstone. Although the coal 
 fields are private property, any one may take a waggon-load without charge, 
 so that the expense of waggon hire is all that it costs. Wood, however, is the 
 general fuel of the country, which is very reasonable. It is only wanted for 
 cooking, except in high cold situations. The garden ground cannot be sur- 
 passed in any part of the world. 
 
 SUMMARY. 
 
 Without exaggeration the following may be stated amongst the advantages 
 of Natal, with its drawbacks. 
 
 Proximity to England, as seen by the annexed Chart. 
 
 No Convicts. 
 
 A climate superior to every other, excepting, perhaps, the Cape Colony and 
 Algoa Bay, which approximate most to it, but which I do not like so well. 
 Although Natal is nearer the Equator, I think it is cooler than those colonies; 
 and much cooler and more healthy than Australia. No disease whatever is 
 prevalent. It is not a colony for medical men. The temperature is moderate. 
 Frost only known far inland and in the mountains; and Europeans may labor 
 in the field or in building without finding the heat to be excessive. 
 
 Droughts more rare than in any Southern Colony. 
 
 Rains frequent, much more so than in the Cape Colony. 
 
88 
 
 CHART SHEWING DISTANCE IN MILES TO THE SOUTHERN COLONIES. 
 
 Rivers. Many rivers take their rise in the Great Drakenberg Mountains, 
 which is the Western and North Western boundary of the Colony, supplied also 
 by innumerable tributaries, thus watering the whole country. These rivers 
 are very numerous and are never dry. Good water. 
 
 Land. Rich virgin soil, capable of producing a great variety of cerial plants; 
 capable also of supporting an infinite quantity of stock, both for consumption 
 and export. Country is generally open; diversified with hill and dale, and 
 rarely rugged or unapproachable. Government price of land 4s. per acre : 
 lands in private hands are commonly cheaper and according to quality. 
 
 The country is more open, more available, better and cheaper than America, 
 and more healthy. 
 
 Productions. Wheat, Barley, Oats, Indian Corn and Millet, Beans, and all 
 kinds of vegetables and fruit. Cotton and Indigo alone afford a sufficient base 
 on which to raise this Colony to great wealth. Cotton as good as from America, 
 a longer life, and a better yield. Cattle and Beef and Pork may be extensively 
 grown and exported; also Butter, Cheese, and Tallow. Cattle of a good 
 weight, and Horses far more enduring than English Horses, and doing double 
 the work. 
 
 Timber and Woods for all purposes in abundance. 
 
 Stone for building, very good ; and good Clay for bricks. 
 
 Coal exists, but carriage at present high: wood is the common fuel and is 
 cheap. 
 
 Tr;:de. All the trade with the Zoolu Country goes through Port Natal and 
 is increasing. The trade with the Dutch farmers over the Drakenberg, should 
 all be carried on by Natal. There are about 117 waggon loads of goods from 
 the Cape Colony to these self-expatriated farmers and the natives, each valued 
 
 in .£‘600 — which gives an amount of about £70,200 
 
 From Natal there are 15 traders, each about £600 9,000 
 
 Trade with shopkeepers stationed beyond the boundary about 5,000 
 Missionary Trade if 5,000 
 
 £89,200 
 
89 
 
 Natal, with enterprise, as the nearest market, should possess the whole of 
 this ; besides her English, Mauritius, and Cape trade. The trade of Natal, in 
 four years, should be £250,000 at the least. Mauritius takes cattle, mules, 
 beans, butter, &c. 
 
 Water power for mills, considerable in all parts; ought to export flour. 
 
 Situation. About half the distance from England, to the other Southern 
 Colonies. One week to Algoa Bay ; two weeks to Cape Town and 
 Mauritius. 
 
 Harbor is like a dock ; the safest in the whole Cape Colony, and may be a 
 good whaling station. The only good place in the Colony for repairing vessels. 
 Land at entrance of port visible for vessels at a distance. 
 
 Native labor is abundant. They are refugees, not natives of the soil. They 
 have mostly been deprived of their cattle, and then fled for their lives. Wages 
 about 5s. a month, with food, which consists of mealies, grown by themselves, 
 milk, and occasionally meat, beef, buck, buffalo, or sea-cow. 
 
 Aborigines. None. Natal having been depopulated by the chiefs of the 
 former possessors of the soil, was afterwards ordered to be evacuated. So 
 that our possession commits no injury upon any aborigines. On the contrary, 
 we confer a benefit, introduce civilization, and spread religion. 
 
 Capacity. When the whole is surveyed it will probably be found to contain 
 thirty-five millions of acres; and, according to Sir Harry Smith, it will support 
 two millions of people ; and, according to Earl Grey, it is the focus from which 
 the regeneration of the interior will be accomplished. 
 
 Government — altogether separate from the Cape of Good Hope; with power 
 to make its own laws ; the governor of the last named Colony having no 
 control, except when he may happen to be on the spot. 
 
 Lastly, — Plenty of sport ; no Poor, and no Poor Rates or Taxes. 
 
 DISADVANTAGES OF NATAL RECAPITULATED. 
 
 1 have not omitted a single passage in any letter mentioning any disadvan- 
 tages under which Natal labors, nor do I know where to find them stated. 
 There are however three disadvantages, which I will recapitulate. The prin- 
 cipal is the Pick, mentioned in the Rev. A. Grout’s letter. There can be no 
 doubt that they are sometimes distressing to cattle, but on the sea coast only. 
 I am told, also to man on arrival in the Colony. That however is only tem- 
 porary. And as regards cattle, the natives pick them off, or cut them with a 
 pair of scissors. 
 
 Lightning in summer is sometimes severe ; and occasionally it is hot, but 
 rarely oppressive. 
 
 Rust in wheat occasionally visits crops on the sea coast, but not all kinds 
 of wheat. Other crops are better suited for the coast, and are not subject 
 to it. 
 
 Locusts. I had, from the rarity of their visits, almost forgotten them; 
 they visit the Colony in some seasons, but it is rarely a serious loss. 
 
 Vermin. Wolves are the principal, but yet they are few. They will all 
 be killed in five years. Lions, buffalos, sea cows, rhinoceros, wild cats, 
 deer of all kinds, only afford sport. They do no damage. Snakes there are, 
 but they are by no means so numerous as I expected. I saw but one in the 
 country, and my companion jumped off his horse and killed it. I saw another 
 at the public dinner table, round an Irishman’s waist; it was eleven feet long, 
 a Boa Constrictor. So much for Snakes. Should a person happen to be bit, 
 take a decoction of tobacco, and a little exercise. 
 
 There are Alligators in some of the rivers : catch them with shark hooks, 
 
 Dysentery is rare; a decoction of pomegranate rind cures it. 
 
 I 
 
90 
 
 NATAL HORSES. 
 
 The horses are active, clever, docile, hardy, and of great powers of endur- 
 ance, even when only grass fed ; though, of course, they will work better 
 when stabled, properly fed, &c. They are singularly free from, the diseases 
 which we are accustomed to in horses at home ; and I have hardly seen an 
 unsound horse, (except from accidental causes,) since I have been in this 
 country. They work well on very indifferent treatment. In travelling, they 
 generally pass the night, after their daily work, (which is sometimes severe, 
 as in hunting excursions,) at grass, or tied to a bush, or wagon- wheel, without 
 suffering, excepting more or less in their condition. 
 
 The “ Horse-sickness,” a disease sometimes prevalent during the summer 
 months, although in some seasons comparatively unknown, and which is ge- 
 nerally fatal in its attack, may, I think, be almost always avoided by judicious 
 treatment. It seems to be a violent form of pleurisy, in which the inflamma- 
 tion runs high rapidly. 
 
 Horses allowed to run at grass during the night, (except in high sour 
 localities,) to eat grass wet with dew, or changed from pasturage in elevated 
 to low situations, are most liable to this disease.* Stabled horses , ] or those 
 not injudiciously exposed, are seldom or never attacked. Except in the 
 summer months, there is little or no risk in exDOSure. 
 
 The general appearance of the Cape horse would hardly indicate his capa- 
 bilities, and I think a good useful horse may always be purchased at from £10 
 to £20. Highly-bred horses are more expensive. 
 
 If not urged to immoderate speed, they will perform journeys wonderful 
 both for distance and continuance. 
 
 In short, I may say, after seven years’ experience of them, under every 
 variety of circumstance, that I have never ceased to be struck with the useful- 
 ness and the capability of the horses of this colony. 
 
 [This note was given me by an officer continually using horses in the service, and in 
 hunting for weeks together. I have myself ridden a Natal horse forty miles a day, 
 excepting Sundays, for a month together. I have ridden one hundred and two miles 
 on one horse, in twenty-six hours, and that is very frequently exceeded.] 
 
 •Let me add, — this complaint maybe foreseen by a great heaviness and sleepiness in 
 the animal. He should at once be bled freely, indeed, the safe plan is to bleed every 
 spring, and prevent it altogether. 
 
 DISEASES OF CATTLE, AND REMEDIES. 
 
 (/ am indebted for the following to an experienced Cattle Farmer .) 
 
 There are but few diseases to which Cattle are liable. The most prevalent 
 are the Stop- sick, the Clow-sick, and the Tonge-sick. 
 
 The Stop-sick, which is the most fatal of them, may generally be attributed 
 to change of grass, by bringing Cattle from the more inland parts of the 
 country towards the sea coast. Cattle are seldom attacked by it, provided they 
 remain in the place where they were bred. The remedies are the bark of the 
 yellow wood tree boiled into a strong liquor; whale oil; or strong soap and 
 water. The former is preferred. 
 
 The Clow or Hoof -sick is a swelling of the parts around the hoof, and which 
 causes a complete lameness for a time, but is seldom or ever destructive to 
 the animal. The remedy for this disease is tarring the parts affected, and by 
 driving them into the salt water, if you reside near the sea coast. This malady 
 is much increased by keeping the Cattle in dirty wet kraals, as the dirt in 
 long droughts clots the hoof, whereby the disease is created. Remedy , — 
 cleanliness. 
 
91 
 
 The Tonge-sick is a swelling and soreness of the tongue and throat, by which 
 the animal is prevented from chewing the cud. It is like the former, seldom 
 or ever fatal, if attended to. Remedy. By rubbing the tongue and inside of 
 the mouth with salt, or salt and vinegar, in most cases a speedy cure is 
 performed. 
 
 Calves. There are also three diseases prevalent amongst Calves; viz., the 
 Melt-sick, the Quarter-evil, commonly designated by Colonists Spon-sick, 
 and the Dysentery. 
 
 The Quarter-evil or Spon-sick is a certain and fatal disease, and no cure has 
 yet been discovered when once the animal is attacked with it. But there is 
 an infallible remedy provided it be attended to while the animal is young, — 
 it is termed Roweling. The process is performed in the following manner: — 
 Select a small stick about six inches long, and cut a notch or head at each 
 end of it; cut a hole in the dewlap, which may be done with a gun-punch, 
 and insert the stick into it, — which, with the motion of the Calf, will act as an 
 issue. Let it remain ’till the shoulders begin to swell, and then take it out. 
 This has been tried by many, and has always proved a certain preventative 
 against Spon-sick. 
 
 The Melt- sick is as dangerous as the former. It is an overflowing of the 
 gall, and the only preventative is keeping in low condition, never letting them 
 feed until the dew is off the grass, and kraalling them an hour before sunset. 
 
 The Dysentery or bloody-flux, is, in nine cases out of ten, caused by letting 
 the Calf have too much milk when young. It is cured by the bark of the 
 mimosa boiled to a strong liquor, or if the Calf be very young, three or four- 
 raw eggs will frequently cure it. 
 
 In the more inland parts these diseases in Calves are very rare. 
 
 The young shoots from burnt land and the stalks of burnt grass, equally 
 purge the Cattle, and, until it is well grown up, other land should be reserved 
 for Oxen, Cows, and Calves. 
 
 Bleeding is very rarely to be resorted to for any complaints in cattle, the 
 preceding remedies being much more effectual. 
 
 THE FARMERS' AND GARDENERS’ MANUAL 
 
 FOR THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE AND NATAL. 
 
 BY Mr. B. HADLEY. 
 
 [The seasons at Natal are about fourteen days in advance of these 
 observations, but in other repects they are very suitable to Natal, only 
 that there is more water.] 
 
 JANUARY. — A moderate quantity of rain may be expected to fall this 
 month, especially if the south and south-east winds prevail. 
 
 Kitchen Garden. — Sow turnips, but not for the main crop; make frequent 
 sowings of small salading, radishes and lettuce, the latter for autumn and 
 winter crops. Parsley may now be sown for winter and spring use ; spinage 
 in the first and second week for a main winter crop ; carrots throughout this 
 and the next month; onions must be set out for seed. Sow York Cabbage; 
 French beans any time this month in moist weather, and peas the last week. 
 
 Transplant as in last month, and include leeks and perennial herbs. Pro- 
 pagate by slips and cuttings where necessary. Water copiously, where 
 required, in the evening. 
 
 French or kidney beans may still be sown to advantage on good moist 
 
92 
 
 ground. The roots of this vegetable striking deep into the soil, enables it 
 to maintain its health much better in hot weather than any others. The 
 painted lady and the yellow varieties are of the earliest description, and the 
 best for sowing ; the speckled and the cream and liver-colored are the most 
 productive. In garden practice, the French bean ought always to be sown 
 thickly in drills about three or four inches deep, and the drills drawn at not 
 less than three feet apart. It is matter of great surprise to us that this most 
 nutritiousvegetable (which is next to wheat, according to the French Chymists) 
 should not be more extensively cultivated than it is in the Eastern Province, 
 more especially as there is a constant demand for it, when dried, at the Mau- 
 ritius, at very remunerating prices. 
 
 Farm. — Plough what land will be required to receive the seed in February. 
 
 Cotton. — Gather cotton as it ripens, and when dry, about four days after 
 the pod bursts, gather the cotton and the seed, and leave the husk. 
 
 FEBRUARY. — This month, like the last, is generally considered a broken 
 month, when showery weather may be expected from the prevalence of south- 
 east winds. 
 
 Kitchen Garden. — Sow radishes twice or thrice ; round leaved spinage 
 twice, and lettuce for succession. Peas, and broad and French beans any time 
 during this month. Sow brocoli and red carrots, and all good sorts of turnips 
 may be sown all the month, and potatoes planted till the end. In the last 
 week sow savoys and a few onions and leeks. Continue to water where 
 necessary, especially pumpkins and melons, unless the latter are getting ripe, 
 when it should be avoided, or the flavor of the fruit will be injured. 
 
 Propagate, by rooted offsets, mint, balm, and tansy. 
 
 Farm. — Oats and barley may be sown any time this month. 
 
 Gather cotton as it ripens. 
 
 MARCH. — This month is rather dry. 
 
 Kitchen Garden. — Sow peas the first fortnight, and broad beans, lettuce, 
 and spinage and small salads every fortnight. A full crop of onions may now 
 be sown, and red and white cabbage and turnips. It has been observed that 
 cauliflower raised from European seeds on somewhat stiff soils, and thinned 
 out to the distance of eighteen inches or two feet apart, is not so liable to the 
 attack of the fly as when transplanted. This circumstance arises from the 
 plant not receiving the check to its growth usual in transplanting. When 
 attacked by the fly sprinkle tobaccco water over the crown of the plant. 
 
 Farm. — Oats and barley may still be sown till the middle of the month, 
 but not later. 
 
 Gather cotton. 
 
 APRIL. — During this month showery weather may be expected. 
 
 Kitchen Garden. — Sow onions and turnips, but not for a main crop, and 
 before the 15th, as they seldom succeed after that time, though in this, and 
 every other instance, much depends on the locality and experience of the gar- 
 dener. Make frequent sowings of small salading for autumn and winter use. 
 Parsley may now be sown, and aniseed and coriander ; spinage in the last week 
 for a winter crop. Such cabbages and turnips as may have been secured for 
 seed, should be planted in rich ground and kept moist, to counteract the effects 
 of the fly. In small gardens, but one variety of cabbage should be permitted 
 to flower and ripen seed in any one season, and as those seeds may be preserved 
 in a very sound state from four to eight years, no inconvenience arises from 
 adopting this practice ; no dependence can be placed upon a crop of seeds 
 ripening in this Colony from seed recently introduced. European cabbage and 
 turnip, cauliflower, brocoli, endive and lettice, must be allowed to ripen their 
 
93 
 
 seeds without being transplanted. Carrots, parsnips, and simularly formed es- 
 culent roots are the better for being placed in a dry repository for a fortnight 
 or three weeks before planting. This interim will allow sufficient time for 
 examination and rejection of such as are woody and tough, bad colored, and 
 bad flavored. The breaking off of a small portion of the extremity of each 
 root will be no detriment to its future growth, and be a sufficient sample of 
 the quality for the experienced to judge by. 
 
 Propagate by slips and cuttings where necessary. 
 
 Farm. — This is the best month to open ditches, and plough and prepare 
 ground for summer crops. 
 
 Gather Cotton. 
 
 MAY. — This month is considered a broken month, and showers of rain may 
 be expected. 
 
 Kitchen Garden. — Sow onions and parsnips, and long pod beans ; small 
 salads in warm borders twice or thrice ; cresse of sorts may still be sown to 
 stand the winter, radishes in the first week, and lettuce for standing the winter, 
 in a warm situation ; spinage in the first fortnight for use late in spring. All 
 sorts of pot-herbs may now be planted out, by offsets, slips, and cuttings. 
 Garlick and shalots may now be planted, cauliflowers sown about the end of 
 the month, and transplanted in July in rich soil, come to head in September 
 and October. At every convenient opportunity, weeds and the refuse of crops 
 should be burned, as the means of destroying noxious seeds and eggs, and lavse 
 of insects, and the ashes spread upon the ground. Stick, stop, support, cut 
 down, blanch and thin, where necessary, and earth up only in dry weather. 
 
 Taking Crops. — Take up potatoes when ripe, and do it effectually; gather 
 pickling cucumbers, nastertium seed, and other pickling articles ; gather herbs 
 and take ripe seed ; destroy insects and vermin. 
 
 Farm. — Sow oats and barley the second and third week, and wheat for a 
 general crop. 
 
 JUNE. —Little rain may be expected this month, as it is generally one of 
 the dry months. 
 
 Kitchen Garden. — Sow early frame, Waterloo and Charlton peas, and 
 some dwarf marrowfats about the end of the month. Early mazagan and long 
 pod beans in the first week and in the last. Egyptian and brown Dutch let- 
 tuce ; in the first and second week early dwarf short top radish ; in the last 
 fortnight the salmon colored. Sow onions to come in late. Peas may now be 
 sown without fear from the frost. Destroy insects, and remove all larvae, webs, 
 eggs, &c. 
 
 Orchard and Nursery. — Plant fruit trees in general. Prune apples, 
 pears, and raspberries, and peaches and apricots in the last fortnight. Dig and 
 trench the earth round trees that have been pruned, and trench ground 
 intended for trees. Stake newly planted trees. 
 
 Farm. — Sow oats, barley and wheat, paying proper regard to the soil and 
 locality, especially for the wheat. 
 
 JULY. — This month, like the last, is generally considered a dry month. 
 
 Kitchen Garden. — Sow radishes every week, round leaved spinage twice ; 
 lettuce for succession ; peas and beans long pod and Windsor in the beginning 
 of the month ; sow early horn carrots at the end ; small salads every fortnight; 
 plant chives at the same time, and also garlic, shalots, horse-radish, liquorice 
 and potatoes in the third week, but in a warm situation. Propagate by off- 
 sets, mint, balm, penny royal, tansy and tarragon. Transplant for seed, car- 
 rots, beet, celery, endive, parsnips and leeks, all of which should be selected 
 for seed before showing any sign of running. Turnips for seed may be dis- 
 
tinguished by the drop of the leaf, and the best sort by the turnip being a 
 flattish round ; dig and trench vacant ground, destroy insects, slugs, and 
 snails. 
 
 Orchard and Nursery. — Plant all sorts of fruit trees ; strawberries towards 
 the end of the month ; prune apricots, peaches and nectarines, before the 
 blossom buds and much swells; apples and pears before the end; finish cut- 
 ting vines, and nail such as are placed against walls or espaliers. Spring- 
 dress strawberry plants ; dig and dress ground where the trees are pruned ; 
 support newly planted trees with stakes ; clear the bark of trees of moss, &c. 
 Acorns ought to be gathered and planted immediately. Those which fall from 
 the trees are frequently dry and unfit for planting ; choose such as are of a 
 brown color, rejecting those which are pale. Plant almonds and some fruits ; 
 such as peaches, nectarines, plums, &c., should be planted as soon after they 
 have been taken from the pulp as possible. Chestnuts, walnuts, and hazel- 
 nuts should also be planted now. The seeds of apples, pears, quince, orange, 
 lemon, loquat, and rose apple, must be sown immediately after they have been 
 taken out of the fruit. The pruning and planting should be completed this 
 month if practicable. Lemon, citron, and orange trees should be planted at 
 least twenty feet apart and in a quarter to themselves. Oranges thrive best 
 in a loamy soil ; lemons grow freely and produce much fruit in light black 
 earth, which contains a considerable portion of vegetable matter. In preparing 
 the ground for planting those trees, it should be trenched three feet deep and 
 well manured. In planting, care should be taken not to bury the stems be- 
 yond the depths they have already been in the ground, and the same caution 
 is necessary with regard to planting all other kinds ol fruit trees whatever. 
 
 Farm.— Sow oats, barley, and wheat, maize, pumpkins, and melons. 
 
 Milk, Cream, and Butter, — The question has often been discussed among 
 the Albany farmers, whether more good butter can be produced by churning 
 the milk, as is the general custom, or by churning the cream, the custom of 
 comparatively few. We have repeatedly tried both ways for months together, 
 but are unable to decide the question, both being about equal. One thing 
 however is quite clear, that though butter made from the cream is richer than 
 that made from the milk, it will not keep sweet so long as butter made from 
 the milk. The following “ Secret of a Devonshire Farmer’s Wife” was pub- 
 lished in 1842, and is well worthy the attention of our Dairy Farmers: — 
 “ While the milking of your cows is going on, let your pans be placed in a 
 kettle of boiling water ; strain the milk into one of the pans taken hot from 
 the kettle, and cover the same with another of the hot pans, and proceed in 
 like manner with the whole mess of milk ; and you will find that you will have 
 double the quantity of good rich cream, and get double the quantity of sweet 
 and delicious butter.” 
 
 The Potatoe. — What I should recommend is simply what I have for a 
 series of years been recommending and practising ; and I pledge my word to 
 those who adopt it, they will certainly improve their potatoes, and grow better 
 and sounder crops. I would advise all parties after a bad season to save their 
 own sets, as if they go to market for them or to neighbours, they cannot tell 
 what they are planting. I have always saved my own sets, which I now 
 and then exchange with a friend. I beg here to name a fact which I know 
 many cultivators will feel inclined to dispute; but to all such, I say, try. I 
 have grown potatoes from the same seed on the same ground for seven years 
 together, and the last crop was as good as the first. As soon as the early 
 ci op is ripe, throw out as many of the largest of the small ones as will be 
 wanted for seed the next season ; let them lie exposed to the sun until autumn, 
 by which time they will be perfectly green and hard ; let them be housed on 
 
95 
 
 cool dry floors ; on no account place them in large heaps, if you do, you set 
 their productive powers to work immediately. These potatoes will never pro- 
 duce the white or sprits generally seen, but by planting-time will have a 
 miniature top complete in broad leaf, by which you have gained at least a 
 month, as it would take full that time for the process to be accomplished after 
 the tuber was planted. Plant whole; cutting is a bad, and in reality a dear 
 plan. Have your ground dunged and prepared as long before planting as you 
 conveniently can, a month if possible ; don’t earth up more than once, they 
 like to be near the surface, and you only do harm and give yourself extra work 
 by being always at it. Now as to the later sorts, expose the seed in the same 
 way, planting in the same way, and again I beg to say, avoid too much 
 earthing up. 
 
 Good plan to pit Potatoes. — “Raise the ground several inches instead 
 of sinking, so as to make a dry foundation for heap ; place a line of fagots 
 from one end to the other, so as to get a circulation of air through it, and 
 cover up no more than will just keep out the frost. This is as simple a plan 
 as can well be adopted, and far better than the old way.” Though this advice 
 is given to the English grower, it may be adopted in this colony with every 
 prospect of success. Those who have little or no convenience for saving their 
 seed in the way pointed out, would do well to adopt the advice generally as 
 far as they are able. 
 
 AUGUST. — This month is generally a dry month. 
 
 Kitchen Garden. — There are few vegetables that may not be sown with 
 advantage this month; attention, however, must be paid to local situations, 
 which can only be known by actual practice. Sow peas and beans, lettuce, 
 first, spring spinage, and small salads ; a few savoys for an early crop, and to- 
 wards the end of the month a full crop ; some red and white cabbage, a full 
 crop of carrots, asparagus the third week, cauliflower the last fortnight for a 
 full crop ; borecole and Brussel sprouts for autumn and winter crops. In the 
 first fortnight sow celery and a few early cucumbers and culinary aromatics ; 
 plant horseradish, liquorice, chives, shalots, and garlic, old store onions, as scal- 
 lions or small bulbs for a crop of large bulbs ; Jerusalem artichokes and seakale, 
 and on the last fortnight, potatoes for a small crop. Propagate edible peren- 
 nials by slips and off-sets. Transplant lettuce and asparagus. Destroy insects, 
 slugs, &c. 
 
 Orchard. — Sow kernels, nuts and walnuts, and fruit stones for stocks; plant 
 fig, quince, walnut and mulberry trees ; preserve cuttings of the vine and fig 
 in dry earth ; prepare for grafting towards the middle of the month, or sooner 
 or later, according to ihe season. Plant out seedling stocks in nursery rows ; 
 head down newly budded and grafted trees not intended to be removed. 
 
 Planting a new Vineyard. — The grape, says an eminent writer, delights 
 most in rocky, stony, or gravelly soils, and it is in soils of this description that 
 grapes are brought to a far higher perfection than in any other description of 
 soils whatever. On examination the reason will be obvious. The vine, from 
 the succulent nature of its shoots while they are yet green and in the course 
 of formation, throughout the summer, requires during that period a constant 
 supply of moisture for the roots to feed upon ; and that particular degree of 
 moisture which has been found by experience to produce in a vine a suitable 
 growth, accompanied by a healthy and perfect development of its first bearing 
 powers, is always present in soils of the above description. And this constant 
 presence of moisture arises from the fact, that fragments of rocks, stones, and 
 other similar hard substances, when imbedded in the soil, always attract mois- 
 ture to their surfaces, which are therefore in consequence never dry. In the 
 
96 
 
 hottest countries of the vinous latitude, soils of this description invariably pro- 
 duce the finest flavored grapes. 
 
 In forming a new vineyard the ground ought to be trenched three feet deep, 
 where practicable, removing all the larger stones, strong rooted weeds, and 
 shrubs. A good dressing of manure must be applied, mixing it thoroughly 
 with the soil. The cuttings should be 14 or 15 inches in length, leaving two 
 buds above the ground. It is by far the best plan to plant the cuttings out 
 at once, which should be done in a regular manner, the lines being placed in 
 a south-east or north-west direction ; cuttings should also be planted in pots 
 or small boxes, and plunged in the ground. These will root freely, and serve 
 for future occasions to replace any stocks which may die in the vineyard. 
 
 Farm.' — Sow wheat on land where the soil and localities are adapted for 
 it, in moist and good ground, at the beginning of the month ; oats and barley 
 any time during the month. The main crop of tobacco should be sown either 
 this month or next, as the season is earlier or later. To form and prepare the 
 seed bed for the crop, mark out the ground four feet wide, of a requisite 
 length ; a light rich soil is necessary, and to render it more so, a mixture of 
 decayed leaves and rotten dung must be unsparingly applied, the bed must 
 be dug pretty deep and trod down with the feet ; level it with a coarse rake, 
 and sow the seed as thinly as possible, and gently patting it down with the 
 back of the spade. This will prevent the seeds from being washed out by heavy 
 rains ; the plants must be kept from winds, and when they have about four 
 leaves, they are large enough for planting out. Choose cloudy or showery wea- 
 ther, placing the plants at not less than thirty inches from each other, in rows. 
 During the progress of the crop, the weeds must be kept down by repeated 
 hoeing, and when the plant shows 10 or 12 leaves the top must be pinched 
 off, after which the side shoots will appear at the base of the leaves. These 
 also must be pinched off to divert the nourishment of the plant to the reserved 
 leaves. The proper time of securing the crop is known by the succulency of 
 the leaf and its cracking on being folded ; the cutting should be effected in dry 
 weather, and the whole process of drying must be done under the shelter of a 
 roof, or in an open airy building. Drying the leaves in the sun in this country 
 is injurious, as it is apt to scorch them and render them brittle, when softness 
 in the leaves is most desirable ; the exposure in the sun, by too quick drying, 
 retains a portion of green color, and causes an unpleasant flavor too common 
 in the ordinary Cape tobacco. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. — This month is generally fine, with frequent showers. 
 
 Kitchen Garden. — Sow seakale, lettuce, small salads for succession, peas 
 and beans ; silver-skinned onions every three weeks during summer for draw- 
 ing, carrots in the second and third for a main crop, French beans in the 
 second week for an early crop, asparagus in the first and second week, but not 
 later ; red beet in the third week for a full crop. Some culinary aromatics and 
 herbs, if not done last month, finish planting the main crop of potatoes, and 
 some cucumbers for a general crop. 
 
 Propagate by bulbs and dried roots, perennial culinary plants by slips and 
 offsets, as all the pot-herbs, aromatics, &c. Dress artichokes and asparagus 
 beds in compartments. Hoe and thin spinage, earth up cauliflowers and cab- 
 bage, seukale for blanching, beans ; pot potatoes ; stick such peas as require it, 
 destroy weeds, and stir the ground in fine weather. 
 
 Orchard. — Plant apples and pears, peaches and nectarines till the 10th, but 
 defer till autumn what you cannot accomplish by this period, unless the season 
 is unusually backward. Prune, if you have delay edit, but expect vines to bleed, 
 and stone fruit, in general, to be much injured in the operation, if not per- 
 formed very early in the month, and even that is too late. In the last days of 
 
97 
 
 the month rub off the buds of vines which appear where you do not wish shoots. 
 Finish sowing kernels for stocks and new varieties. Grafts the pear, plum and 
 i apple. Attend to newly-grafted trees, repair cracks in the clay, or renew such 
 
 balls as may have dropped off ; eradicate all suckers, and pinch off the shoots 
 that protrude below the grafts. Evergreens may be transplanted during this 
 month. 
 
 Farm. — Sow oats and barley, if not too dry, all the month, and plant pump- 
 kins, mealies, and melons. This is a proper month for sowing lucern, an in- 
 valuable grass for milch cows at any time, but especially in case of drought. 
 
 Cotton. — Sow all this and the following month. Select the aspect towards 
 the sea. Soil should be light or sandy. Seeds should be planted in rows four 
 or five feet asunder, in holes eighteen inches apart, made by a dibble, ten or 
 twelve inches deep, several seeds in each. When up, thin the plants, leaving 
 only one or two in each hole, retaining the healthiest. Leaving these to stand 
 four feet apart, an acre will contain 4410 plants. Pruning strengthens the 
 plant and increases the bearing branches. If the rows were six feet apart, the 
 ground might be better dug or ploughed and weeded. 
 
 OCTOBER. — This is a rainy month like the two former, but the rain is 
 generally more continuous. 
 
 Kitchen Garden. — Sow aromatic herbs, if not done last month ; small 
 salads for a complete succession, radishes and lettuce, spinage once a fort- 
 night; carrots for late drawing ; brocoli and Brussels sprouts for the last crop. 
 Savoys for the last crop. French beans in the first week for a full crop. Young 
 leeks to be late transplanted ; cauliflower in the second and third weeks ; cu- 
 cumbers in all this month, and transplant cabbages. 
 
 Propagate by bulbs and dried roots. If a sufficient quantity of potatoes 
 have not been planted, effect this as early as possible in sheltered situations. 
 Plant slips and offsets ; stick such peas as require it ; top early crops of broad 
 beans, earth up cabbages, beans, peas, potatoes, &c. Thin, weed, hoe, and 
 stir the surface among seeding crops. Water in dry weather; destroy insects 
 and vermin. 
 
 Orchard. — Plant strawberries if not done last month ; summer-prune vines, 
 peaches, and other early shooting trees, against walls and espaliers ; remove all 
 suckers, and pinch off strawberry runners ; water strawberries over the herbage 
 and especially after the fruit is set. Destroy insects, especially snails and 
 caterpillars. On the first symptoms of the leaves rolling up, unrol them and 
 pick out the grub before it does further mischief ; take special care it does not 
 get to the petals of apple and pear blossoms. 
 
 Farms. — Continue to sow pumpkins, mealies and melons, and water freely. 
 
 NOVEMBER. — In this month, as in the last, copious rain may be expected. 
 
 Kitchen Garden. — Sow cucumbers and gerkins for pickling ; small salad, 
 and lettuce every ten days. Radishes and spinage in the first week ; French 
 beans every fortnight for succession; endive about the 10th or 24th for the main 
 autumn and winter crops. Propagate by bulbs, roots, offsets, and slips in show- 
 ery weather ; transplant endive, lettuce, and other plants and herbs. Stick 
 such peas as require it, and top beans ; thin, hoe, weed, and stir the ground as 
 before. Water as far as practicable in dry weather. Take in crops. Cut 
 and dry herbs for winter use. Gather ripe seeds. 
 
 Orchard. — Prune and train the summer shoots of all descriptions of wall 
 and trellis trees. Thin out the summer shoots of fruit trees, shrubs, and all 
 fruit trees excepting high standards that do not require such nicety. Mulch, 
 water, fasten by stakes, weed, hoe, rake where wanted. Destroy insects. Sow 
 sulphur over the mildew, water for the acarus; but depend more on your fingers 
 than anything else for the thorough eradication of grubs. 
 
98 
 
 Farm. — Mealies may still be sown, and if the weather be moist, pumpkins 
 may still be planted in the first and second week ; water freely if required. 
 
 .DECEMBER. — This month is generally considered a wet month. 
 
 Kitchen Garden. — Sow salads and lettuce in shady situations for suc- 
 cessional crop; French beans for a full crop, if rainy weather: brocoli before 
 the 10th, round leaved spinage in the first week in a shady border for succes- 
 sion. Triangular leaved and prickly spinnage in the last week on poor ground 
 to stand the winter. To save seed, mark out the various tribes. Transplant 
 as before, and include celery and endive. Stick such peas as require ; train 
 cucumbers and melons ; earth up potatoes and other crops which require it. 
 Water wherever necessary. 
 
 Orchard. — Plant strawberries in shady situations. Prune, train, thin, and 
 regulate all the summer shoots of wall and espalier trees, and dwarfs and stan- 
 dards. Bud peaches, nectarines, and apricots on peach stocks. 
 
 Farm. — Little is required to be done on the farm this month, except 
 harvesting, and ploughing stubbles. Mealies may be planted this month, but 
 are not so sweeet as those planted earlier. 
 
 COST OF CATTLE, &c., IN NATAL. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 5 . 
 
 d. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 Oxen. — Trained Trek Oxen . . 
 
 2 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 to 
 
 4 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 
 Fat Cattle 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 y y 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 
 Cows, Milch 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 y y 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 
 Y oung Heifers . . 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 y y 
 
 1 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 
 Sheep, scarce, Cape 
 
 0 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 yy 
 
 0 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 
 Breeding Wool Sheep, very scarce 
 
 0 
 
 15 
 
 0 
 
 y y 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 
 Goats 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 yy 
 
 0 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 
 Pigs, scarce, young ones 
 
 0 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Horses, useful Hacks 
 
 7 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 yy 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 
 Superior 
 
 15 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 yy 
 
 20 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 
 Poultry, fowls 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 y y 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 per doz. 
 
 Ducks 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 y y 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 6 each. 
 
 Beef 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 yy 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 per lb. 
 
 Mutton 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 y y 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 do. 
 
 Goat 
 
 9 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 y y 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 
 Mealies, or Indian Corn 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 y y 
 
 0 
 
 8 
 
 0 
 
 per muid 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 0 
 
 7 
 
 0 
 
 yy 
 
 0 
 
 17 
 
 6 
 
 do. 
 
 Tea 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 yy 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 0 
 
 per lb. 
 
 Coffee 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 y y 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 9 
 
 do. 
 
 Sugar 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 y y 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 do. 
 
 Rice 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 11 
 
 y y 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 do. 
 
 Raisins 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 y y 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 do. 
 
 Butter 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 y y 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 do. 
 
 Bread 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 y y 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 do. 
 
 Candles 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 y y 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 8 
 
 do. 
 
 Soap 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 y y 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 do. 
 
 Salt 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 y y 
 
 
 
 
 do. 
 
 Brandy 
 
 0 
 
 5 
 
 0 
 
 y y 
 
 
 . . 
 
 
 per gall. 
 
 Wine 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 0 
 
 y y 
 
 
 
 
 do. 
 
 Tobacco 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 y y 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 9 
 
 per lb. 
 
 Other articles, such as wearing apparel, not much higher than in England. 
 Ironmongery and earthenware are dearer, on account of the carriage, but 
 competition renders most articles reasonable. Luxuries must be paid for. 
 
99 
 
 LAWS AFFECTING TRADE, PROPERTY, &c. 
 
 Port Natal is an open port for the purposes of trade. 
 
 Pilotage or port dues are 4s. Gd. per foot on the draught of water of the 
 ship. 
 
 Exports therefrom are free from duty. 
 
 Imports. — British manufactures, the duty is 5 per cent ad valorem. 
 
 Foreign ditto, ditto, 
 
 Coffee, 5s. 0 d. per cwt. 
 
 Rice, Is. 6d. do. 
 
 Spirits, 2s. 0 d. per gall. 
 
 Wine, 4s. 0 d. per doz. 
 in cask, Is. 6d. per gall. 
 
 Bottles, Bullion, Casks, Staves, Cattle of all kinds, Seeds, Plants, and Speci- 
 mens of Natural History, and Agricultural Implements, are all free of duty. 
 
 The coloured people who have taken refuge in Natal to enjoy our protection, 
 pay a small tax per annum of 7s. for each house. 
 
 Auctioneers must take out a License of £3 per annum. 
 
 Auction duty on moveable property, £4 per cent. ; on immoveable propert} 7 , 
 2 per cent. 
 
 Transfer duty on immoveable property £4 per cent. 
 
 Retail Traders must take out a license at £l 10s. per annum. 
 
 Wine and Spirit Traders ditto £75 for 1 2 months; £40, 6 months; 
 and £25 for 3 months. 
 
 Ginger Beer ditto £10 ditto; £5, ditto; 
 
 and £2 10s. for 3 months. 
 
 Gunpowder and Arms. — Strict regulations are in force respecting them, and 
 intending emigrants should take none. Licenses must first be purchased. 
 
 License to trade with the Zoolu country, £10; but permission to do so 
 must also be obtained from the Zoolu king, who will probably demand as 
 much more. Our government might collect this £10 for Panda and pay it 
 to him, introducing regulations for trading, &c.; but certainly the govern- 
 ment of a nation that exists by trade, ought not itself to tax the enterprize of 
 its inhabitants. The amount is not much, but the principle is bad. 
 
 The Roman Dutch Law is the established Law of the Colony, as in the old 
 Cape Colony. 
 
 The chief District Court is held in Pietermaritzburg ; courts are held twice 
 a year in the other districts of the colony. 
 
 This Court, in Pietermaritzburg, is also a court of record. It is presided 
 over by one Judge, known by the stile or title of “Recorder of Natal, who 
 must be a Barrister of England or Ireland, or an advocate of the Court of 
 Session in Scotland. He ranks next to the Lieutenant Governor. His salary 
 is £700 a year, which ceases if he takes any other place of emolument. 
 
 Advocates and Attorneys are admitted to plead. A Crown Prosecutor is 
 appointed. 
 
 Jurisdiction of Court.— Court has cognizance of all pleas and jurisdiction 
 in all causes, civil, criminal, and mixed. 
 
 Pleadings and proceedings are carried on, and the decrees, judgments, and 
 orders thereof, pronounced in open court, in the English language. Evidence 
 in criminal cases to be given viva voce in open court. 
 
 12 ditto. 
 
 Pepper, 4s. 0d. per cwt. 
 
 Sugar, 2s. 3d. do. 
 
 refined, 4s. 6d. do. 
 
 Tea, 0s. 4 \d. do. 
 
100 
 
 Criminal cases. — Trial to be before Recorder and nine Jurymen, who must 
 concur in every verdict. Verdict to be given by the foreman in the open 
 court. 
 
 Civil cases before the Recorder, without a Jury ; the principal reason for 
 withholding Trial by Jury in civil cases is, that in a young community 
 interest might bias the verdict in favour of friends. 
 
 In Criminal cases, the Lieutenant Governor must approve of the sentence 
 of the court, should it amount to death, banishment, or transportation. 
 
 Appeal Criminal cases. — Cases decided in this court may be carried to the 
 Supreme Court in Cape Town. 
 
 Court may form its own rules, orders, and regulations; all such orders, &c. 
 to be so formed as to promote economy and expedition in the dispatch of 
 business. 
 
 Civil cases heard and decided may be referred to Cape Town. 
 
 Jurers. — Age 21 to 60, with the usual exceptions. Qualification, ^10 a 
 year in landed or household property. 
 
 Majority of Man and Woman, 21 years. 
 
 Lieutenant Governor appoints Magistrates, Justices, Field Cornets, and 
 Constables. 
 
 Resident Magistrates decide cases not exceeding <^15. 
 
 Liberty of Press. — An ordinance exists requiring the usual securities, but 
 in no part of the world is greater liberty enjoyed. 
 
 Rules of Court. — New rules must be approved by the Lieutenant Governor. 
 
 Lieutenant Governor may create Municipalities. 
 
 Succession to Property. — The law at Natal conforms to that of the Cape 
 Colony. The Dutch formed this law. An ante-nuptial contract or marriage 
 settlement may however be made beforehand, and which it is desirable should 
 always be done. The existing law is as follows : — If a man dies intestate, 
 the widow is entitled to one half, it being supposed that as partners for life, 
 each is entitled to half the property ; the other half is again subdivided, and 
 the widow takes half of it also, and the children the remainder, which is 
 equally divided between them. Thus the widow gets three-quarters of the 
 whole property, and she is commonly sought after again for the sake of the 
 property. The money, therefore, brought by the man, and made by the man, 
 goes from his family to his wife’s family. There is just enough kept from the 
 wife to satisfy her conscience as regards the care of her first husband’s 
 children ; but it is not enough for their subsistance, and they are consequently 
 driven from their father’s homestead into the wilderness. This is a great 
 secret of the Dutch emigration. If the children are 21 years of age, they 
 are entitled to receive their share immediately ; otherwise the Guardian 
 Society administers for them till of age. This is the most important differ- 
 ence between the English and the Dutch Roman Law respecting succession to 
 property; but there are other points of secondary consideration. Parties 
 married in England do not come under this law ; and those who marry in the 
 Colony should enter into ante-nuptial contracts; but if omitted, the survivor 
 will get three-quarters of the property existing at the time of the decease of 
 either spouse, and one quarter must at once be paid to the children, or good 
 security deposited with the Government Guardian Society during their mi- 
 nority. The Dutch are attached, (I think, in ignorance of its evils,) to this 
 law, which dismembers property, prevents improvement, alienates affection, 
 renders children slaves to their parents while living, particularly to their 
 mothers, and perpetual emigrants at the death of the last surviving parent. 
 Part of the evils are acknowledged, and are occasionally partially obviated by 
 the parents having entered into a bond called a “ Kinderbury ” bond, which 
 
101 
 
 allows all the property to remain in the hands of the survivor during his ot 
 her life time, the survivor finding security, personal and landed, for the amount. 
 A second marriage enables all children who have attained their majority, to 
 receive their respective shares. 
 
 The Guardian Society is a government institution, and will undertake the 
 administration of Wills and Estates. 
 
 Titles to Estates are indisputable, being all registered, and thus not subject 
 to litigation. Bonds and Mortgages are also registered, and thus every 
 security is afforded to the holders of property, and to mortgagees. 
 
 A Deeds’ Registry Office is established for all Bonds, Mortgages, &c. 
 
 Law Fees are established by ordinance, and cannot be overstepped. 
 
 The Lieutenant Governor is in all things governor, both civil and military, 
 except when the governor of the Cape is in Natal. The administration is 
 entirely in the name of the Lieutenant Governor, so that to all intents and 
 purposes, except in emergencies, when the Governor’s presence may be re- 
 quired, Natal has a separate government, even to the making of its own laws. 
 
 RELIGION. 
 
 There is no State religion in Natal. As there is not, — individuals and com- 
 munities should be religious without it, but a state ordinance cannot make them 
 so ; and that is always best done voluntarily. 
 
 EDUCATION. 
 
 The Cape School system is excellent, and will be adopted with all its ad- 
 vantages, in Natal. The charge will be about a guinea a quarter, and wil 
 include Instruction in the Classics, Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, and Phy- 
 sical Science; the English and Dutch languages, Arithmetic, Geography, His- 
 tory, Chronology, Drawing in its first principles, and Writing. 
 
 RATES OF LABOUR. 
 
 The following were about the rates current in Natal, in 1849, but it is said 
 higher wages are now paid. 
 
 £ s. d. £ s. d. 
 
 Domestic Servants 1 0 0 to 2 0 0 per month. 
 
 Farm Labourers and Ploughmen. . 1 0 0 ,, 3 0 0 do. 
 
 Carpenters 0 5 0 ,, 0 7 6 per day. 
 
 Cabinet-makers 0 7 6 ,, do. 
 
 Masons 050,, 07 6 do. 
 
 Smiths 05Q„ 0 7 6 per day. 
 
 Wagon Builders and Wheelwrights 0 5 0 ,, 0 7 6 do. 
 
 *Brick-makers and Bricklayers . . 0 5 0 ,, 0 7 6 do. 
 
 Sawyers. — The usual plan is to grant a portion of the Timber felled, instead 
 of wages. 
 
 A large number of tradesmen are not to be recommended at first, unless 
 accompanied, as I propose, with a large proportion of small farmers and farm 
 labourers; they are the foundation of the prosperity of all trades. We 
 cannot do well without one another. 
 
 * To Bricklayers able to carry on business on their own account, Government grant 
 fourteen years’ leases of an acre of good clay land, for Is. per acre, on condition that 
 proper sheds be erected. 
 
102 
 
 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 
 
 Until now, the following have been used, but they are now ordered to be 
 abolished, and English weights and measures to be adopted. 
 
 Liquid Measure. 
 
 A Legger is 
 
 152 
 
 Dutch gallons or 
 
 126 
 
 7-llths Imper. 
 
 A Pipe ,, 
 
 100 
 
 yy 
 
 91 
 
 7-llths „ 
 
 An Aum ,, 
 
 38 
 
 yy yy yy 
 
 31 
 
 2-3rds ,, 
 
 An Anker ,, 
 
 n 
 
 yy yy yy 
 
 7 
 
 10-13ths 
 
 Corn Measure. imperial 
 
 A Schepel is equal to 82-107ths the old Winchester bushel, or 743-1000ths 
 A Muid is 4 Schepels, or 328-107ths ,, ,, or 2J72-1000ths 
 
 A Load is 10 Muids 
 
 Thus, 107 Dutch Schepels are equal to 82 Winchester bushels; and 4 
 Schepels are about equal to 3 Imperial bushels, and 11 Schepels are about 
 1 quarter. 
 
 Cloth Measure. 
 
 1 Ell is equal to 27 Rhynland inches. 
 
 1 Yard is ,, 34 17-20ths ,, 
 
 The proportion between Dutch ells and English yards is generally taken at 
 3 yards to 4 ells, but the real proportion is 100 yards to 129 2-27ths ells. 
 36 Rhynland inches are equal to 37 English. 
 
 Land Measure. 
 
 A Morgen is generally reckoned to be equal to 2 English statute acres ; 
 the true proportion is 49 71-100ths Morgen to 100 acres. 
 
 1 Morgen contains 600 square roods; 1 square rood 144 square feet; 
 1 square foot, 144 square inches, Rhynland. 
 
 A WORD OE ADVICE TO EMIGRANTS. 
 
 I cannot resist the desire to instil a few words of advice, as' I shall not 
 have another opportunity of doing so generally; and it is as well to start as 
 we wish to proceed, and, as the promoter of extensive emigration, I think 
 myself at liberty to do so. 
 
 Farmers . — You are the most numerous of the party, for I trust I shall 
 shortly see every laborer will become a farmer. But don’t be prejudiced and 
 self-conceited because you have handled a plough. Find out how your suc- 
 cessful neighbour manages, and copy him. If you don’t, the intelligent 
 weavers, tinkers, and cobblers, will beat you. Seek the information of the 
 Dutch and the old English settlers. They are all good neighbours, (and you 
 must be the same,) and they will give you their advice and experience, which 
 enables you to save money. Be therefore thankful for it. Copy them in 
 turning out by, or before daylight. 
 
 A farmer should buy nothing, waste nothing, and produce everything. 
 Take good luck by the hand, and wrestle lustily with misfortune. Don’t eat 
 your nest egg till next year. Take care of your small stock, and next year 
 you will have a large one. Buy your stores with money in hand, and not 
 with your standing crops. If you do, your stores will be dear, and the 
 weasels will get into your corn. 
 
Carpenters and Masons. — A single stroke does not make a plank you know, 
 nor two bricks a house. Don’t be in a hurry, but work steadily. I want to 
 raise all of you from being men to become masters. If you can build for 
 others, you can build for yourselves. Let laboring carpenters and masons 
 combine and build houses for themselves. Still let them combine and build 
 and then sell or let their buildings. Don’t spend the money, but buy new 
 materials, construct another, and sell or let again. Begin with small houses, 
 they will answer best, being most manageable for you. You may join a brick- 
 maker in the transaction, perhaps. Let laborers do this and they will become 
 wealthy, and not be obliged all their lives long to build only for others. 
 Now, the poor build houses, and the rich inhabit them. Not injuring his 
 neighbour, every man for himself, and God for us all. If a man is not able 
 to do this (but why not ?) let him work for another ’till he can, ever looking 
 to make himself independent. Courage ! and go forward. 
 
 Sawyers . — Let them try to enter into fair contracts to deliver a certain 
 portion of timber, and retain for themselves a certain portion. 
 
 Brickmakers may act in the same way. But some of them may engage 
 land at once at a shilling per acre, and make bricks for sale, close to the port. 
 
 Tradesmen. — Let all tradesmen take the first offer, and fulfil the first job as 
 quickly as possible. Let good work and a short time about it constitute, above 
 all things, your first transactions. This, and civdity, will soon bring you good 
 business. Carry your tools, and sometimes a few materials, so that you may 
 take a job the next day, — for instance, a painter may carry a few kegs of 
 useful paints, cans of oil and turps, and a crate of glass well packed, — but 
 Shop Goods from England are nearly as cheap as at home. In case of my 
 chartering vessels, it would be profitable for me, if emigrants took large quan- 
 tities of goods on freight; but for their own sake, it is not by any means 
 desirable, until they have experience of the market, and know something of 
 the people. It is easy to lose in starting, and then it is not so easy to get up 
 again. Minute enquiry beforehand, and purchasing from manufacturers them- 
 selves, is the only way in these days to be equal to the competition of the old 
 traders. 
 
 Capitalists. — Look about before you invest. Don’t buy land because it 
 pleases your eye. Is it good for what you buy it ? is the question. Don’t 
 have large transactions with people before you know them well. They 
 may know better than you, but enquire. The largest grasp does not hold the 
 largest handful : — Be content with a fair interest, instead of risking every 
 thing for extravagant returns. The legal interest is 6 per cent, which^can be 
 well secured and is good pay. Don’t encourage land-jobbing by bills. 
 
 Young folks.— -While with your parents work well for them. It is a dead 
 certainty then that your children will work for you. WTen you separate from 
 your parents get respectably married. Look out for an industrious, cheerful 
 partner. Choose your partner for work, and not for fine feathers. Moulting 
 time will come. 
 
 Wives. — The general well-being of society, its prosperity, and virtue, much 
 depend upon you. Be help-meets to your husbands, as it is meet you should 
 be. In the way of dress, cleanliness and neatness alone are required of you 
 or your children : finery costs much money ; mind this in your outfit. If 
 you indulge in it, your money will be missing when wanted. Get a 
 leathern purse, (the gude Dutch-wife uses an old stocking.) Save all your 
 husband s money and add some of your own. Most can do so. What cannot a 
 woman do when she chooses? “ a virtuous wife will do her husband good and 
 not evil all the days of her life. She considereth a field and buyeth it ; with 
 
104 
 
 the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She looketh well to the ways 
 of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up 
 and call her blessed ; her husband also, and praiseth her ; — ‘ many daughters, 
 have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.” Mind the house. Make 
 even your youngest children industrious about something, and marry them 
 early. 
 
 Ministers of Religion. — They need no advice from me, except on account of 
 the experience I have derived in the Colony. They must, however, wait on 
 their ministry, and never touch politics. That is one reason why the gospel 
 with its good tidings and renovating principles does not inflow and act upon 
 the heart. If they meddle with politics they will impair their usefulness and get 
 into difficulty. He that will be a servant of the Lord must not be cumbered with 
 such things ; shun not to declare the whole counsel of God from fear, or any 
 other motive. The mercy of God in Christ is not straitened, but we are 
 straitened in our own ideas : “As the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so 
 are my thoughts above your thoughts.” 
 
 To One and All. — Land quickly and go off to your location, and waste no 
 money as you go. Then look to your garden and plant it. Get some poultry 
 and pigs forthwith. Don’t be in a hurry about furniture. Old boxes make 
 very good chairs and tables. If you buy before you can pay, you have lost 
 your freedom. Debts are like shackles and handcuffs, — you are bound hand 
 and foot. They depress, — they unman you. Owe no man any thing, but to 
 love one another. Avoid the bill system and land speculations ; they both 
 bring ruin. 
 
 Let all contribute as quickly as possible to erect a decent house for his 
 minister, and the minister give a hand himself. The head should not say, 1 
 have no need of thee. We depend on one another. Let us all strive for 
 harmony. “Blessing” means Harmony. Although we may make money, 
 yet all the harmonies of domestic and social life may be absent. To be 
 happy, — do as you would be done by. Let all give good measure, pressed 
 down and running over unto their neighbors, out of principle, out of love, and 
 assuredly it will return unto every man’s bosom in harmony that will diffuse 
 itself all around; light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright 
 in heart. Attainment must be preceded by effort. Though we may fall short, 
 still, let us strive to be holy as God is holy, perfect as He is perfect. Christ 
 by assuming our nature became our brother, — by his perfect walk in that na- 
 ture he became our example. By his thus regenerating our nature, in himself, 
 he became our Saviour (as in Adam, all die, even so in Christ shall all be made 
 alive ;) and by right, prerogative and spiritual essence, “ He is God over all, 
 blessed for ever, — the only wise God our Saviour?” If we so regard Him, 
 sinful propensities insensibly diminish. We shall be like Him for we shall see 
 Him as He is. There wall be such an inflowing of the spirit of God which 
 is in Christ, into us, that we shall assume the spirit or disposition of Christ; — 
 we shall assume it inwardly and show it outwardly. 
 
 Brother-men and fellow travellers, — let us set forth with our hearts rightly 
 placed, being really kindly affectionate one to another. The Golden rule is, as 
 ye would that men should do unto you, even so do unto them. Such a prin- 
 ciple of action would realize the Golden Age : that would be true Christianity 
 actuating social life : the social wolf would dwell with the lamb, the leopard lie 
 down with the kid ; the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and 
 a little child should lead them. The earth then would be full of the knowledge 
 of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. The wilderness and the solitary place 
 
105 
 
 would be glad, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose. What hap- 
 piness would it be, if we were all thus harmoniously bound up together in the 
 bundle of life ! If we were all like-minded with Christ Jesus, we should realize 
 it. If man were pure, all things would be pure : all cirumstances would blend 
 for his happiness, like the colours in the rainbow. 
 
 Avoid therefore all dispiutes. Excuses may be found for litigation in England. 
 When in the colony, — compromise, arbitrate, but never go to law. And the 
 way to avoid it, is, not to seek that which is another’s : — thou shalt not covet. 
 
 If we are upright, we have every reason to be cheerful and merry of heart. 
 Let us therefore not wear long religious faces. Hypocrisy is like the small 
 pox ; if it is in the system, it is sure to come out some time or other. 
 
 In hot climates avoid strong drink. It leads to the utter degradation of the 
 whole man. We dishonour God, become useless to our neighbours, and a dis- 
 grace our ownselves. When the body is inebriated, the soul or spirit-body 
 is mastered, degraded, alienates itself from God, and unfits itself for heaven. 
 
 Magistrates . — Although these remarks may be considered too serious and 
 out of place, it must not be imagined that mirthfulness is objected to. It 
 ought to be more cultivated, and magistrates in the colony of Natal may do 
 much good, not simply in the punishment of the wrong- doer, but by the en- 
 couragement of those who do well. The natives love music and dancing. Let 
 us hold out the reward of a dance, quarterly, to all natives bringing tickets 
 from their masters and mistresses. Even religion, at present, in consequence 
 of our deficiency in their language, will not tend to civilize them so rapidly. 
 Decency in conduct, and being properly clad, may be secured by this means, 
 and additional industry will be excited. We must deal gently with them, being 
 all things to all men, to gain some. Civilization, as well as Christianity, should 
 cover the earth, as the waters cover the seas. That is our calling. As 
 Prince Albert said “ It is the duty of every one to add his humble mite of 
 individual exertion to further the accomplishment of what he believes Provi- 
 dence to have ordained.” And Emigration leading Religion and Civilization 
 hand-in-hand, are the means by which Providence in these days is accomplishing 
 its high purposes of spreading righteousness and truth. 
 
 THE EMIGRANT. 
 
 0 ! Thou by long experience tried, 
 
 Near whom no grief can long abide. 
 
 My Lord, with Thee, in sweet content 
 
 1 pass my years of banishment. 
 
 All scenes alike engaging prove 
 To souls impressed with sacred love. 
 
 Where’er they dwell, they dwell in Thee, 
 
 In Heaven, or earth, or on the sea. 
 
 To me remains nor place nor time, 
 
 My country is in ev’ry clime ; 
 
 I can be calm and free from care 
 On any shore, since God is there. 
 
 While place we seek, or place we shun, 
 
 The soul finds happiness in none ; 
 
 But, with my God to guide my way, 
 
 ’ Tis equal joy to go or stay. 
 
 Could I be cast where Thou art not, 
 
 That were indeed a dreadful lot; 
 
 But regions none remote I call, 
 
 Secure of finding God in all. 
 
 K 
 
106 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL AND MISSIONARY ESTABLISHMENTS. 
 
 The Rev. H. Lloyd, Colonial Chaplain, Pietermaritzburg. 
 
 „ James Green, Church of England Minister, Pietermaritzburg. 
 
 „ J. Strabler, Catechist, Pietermaritzburg. 
 
 „ J. Holden, Wesleyan, D’Urban. 
 
 ,, W. J. Davies, ,, „ 
 
 ,, John Richards ,, Pietermaritzburg. 
 
 „ J. Archbell, ,, „ 
 
 ,, J. Allison, ,, Urnlass. 
 
 ,, G. Parsenson, 
 
 „ J. L. Dohne, Dutch Church, Pietermaritzburg. 
 
 ,, W. Lindley, American, Nanga. 
 
 „ A. Grout, „ Umvoti. 
 
 ,, Dr. Adams, ,, Urnlass. 
 
 „ W. Posselt, Young Germany. 
 
 And several others recently arrived. 
 
 GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION STAFF 
 
 in the United Kingdom. 
 
 Secretary to Her Majesty’s Land and Emigration Commissioners, 
 S. WALCOT, Esq., Park-street, Westminster. 
 
 EMIGRATION AGENTS, 
 
 Lieut. Lean, R.N., London (Office, 70, Lower Thames- street.) 
 Lieut. Hodder, R.N., Liverpool. 
 
 Lieut. Carew, R,N., Plymouth. 
 
 Lieut. Forrest, R.N., Glasgow and Greenock. 
 
 Lieut. Henry, R.N., Dublin. 
 
 Lieut. Friend, R.N., Cork. 
 
 Lieut. Stark, R.N., Belfast. 
 
 Mr. Lynch, R.N., Limerick. 
 
 Lieut. Shtjttleworth, R.N., 1 cr -p. , r, ir c 
 
 T . ^ , -r, XT r Shgo, Donegal, Balhna, &c. 
 
 Lieut. Moriarty, R.N., j b 
 
 Lieut. Ramsay, R.N., Londonderry. 
 
 Com r - Ellis, R.N., Waterford. 
 
 These officers act under the immediate directions of the Colonial Land and 
 Emigration Commissioners, and the following is a summary of their duties : — 
 They procure and give gratuitously information as to the sailing of ships, 
 and means of accommodation for emigrants ; and whenever applied to for that 
 purpose, they see that all agreements between shipowners, agents, or masters, 
 and intending emigrants, are duly performed. They also see that the pro- 
 visions of the Passengers’ Act are strictly complied with, viz. : — that passen- 
 ger vessels are sea-worthy, that they have on board a sufficient supply of 
 provisions, water, medicines, &c., and that they sail with proper punctuality. 
 
 They attend personally at their offices on every week-day, and afford 
 gratuitously all the assistance in their power to protect intending emigrants 
 against fraud and imposition, and to obtain redress where oppression or injury 
 has been practised on them. 
 
io; 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 COTTON GROWING AT NATAL. 
 
 Ample encouragement for growing cotton at Natal may be found in the fact 
 that whereas eight bales imported in a vessel at Liverpool in 1784, were 
 seized by the Custom House, under the impression that the plant could not be 
 grown in America, (two million of pounds only were imported from America 
 in 1791,) 626,650,412 lbs. were imported into England alone, from that 
 country, in 1845, which at its average price of 4-|d. per lb. amounts to 
 £12,076,075 12 1 1£, sterling. 
 
 To mark Natal’s future progress we record her Export in 1846, at the small 
 quantity of 1740 lbs. ; 5821 lbs. in 1847, and in 1848 at 13,931 lbs. 
 
 Why should not England’s Colonies supply England’s manufacturers ? Let 
 Natal be energetic and she may in time supply a great proportion of this great 
 demand, and thus in exchange procure from England all that she requires, and 
 a circulating medium besides, in short, become a wealth-producing country. 
 The manufacturers of England must in self defence give every encouragement 
 to Natal Cotton growing, in order to be rendered somewhat less dependent 
 than they are at present : and on the other side, the extent of the English 
 Market for the Colonists is without limit. 
 
 Growth and preparation of Cotton . — Nine kinds of cotton have been grown 
 in Natal, proving thereby the adaptation of the soil for the growth of this 
 order of plants. The coast-line is the most suited for its cultivation, the sea- 
 air, or the deposit of saline dew on the plant favoring its growth as much as 
 the sandy nature of the soil. At Natal, cotton consequently should be planted 
 facing the sea, having an eastern and south-eastern aspect. The N.W. 
 winds are supposed to be trying to the plant. It is certainly the most parching 
 wind. Every kind of cotton may be produced ; and those who are inclined 
 to take some extra pains, will probably find the Sea Island Cotton will answer 
 best: and those who are inlined to cultivate that which is the most hardy, and 
 requires the least trouble in cleaning, will grow the most common cotton now 
 in the Colony probably produced from Egyptian seed. The additional diffi- 
 culty of cleaning Sea Island Cotton, is the principal reason for supposing that 
 it will not answer so well as the most common cotton. The machines lately 
 invented, however, may obviate much of the difficulty found in cleaning this 
 the most valuable of cottons ; and every effort should be made to bring it to 
 market, the price being double. 
 
 Cotton may be sown in Natal from August to October, and although cotton 
 has been grown at Maritzburg, fifty miles from the coast, the best cotton lands 
 will certainly be found within fifteen miles from the sea. Cotton lands require 
 ploughing, and if crops, and continuous good crops, are required, subsoil plough- 
 ing should be resorted to. If good seed can be had from Liverpool, there will 
 be no harm in Emigrants bringing different kinds ; but the colony will now 
 supply any quantity of the common quality. In order to keep the ground 
 clear of weed, and for facility of gathering, as well as economy of ground, the 
 seed should be planted in rows at least five feet asunder (six feet probably 
 
108 
 
 
 better,) and in holes three feet apart. They should be dibbled in (and if the 
 ground is subsoil ploughed,) twelve inches deep, half a dozen seeds in each 
 hole. If all come up, thin them out leaving a couple of the strongest. It 
 fibres adhere to the seed, and the color of both be a little green, it is very 
 doubtful if the seed will germinate, the seed should come out clean. In 
 America the cotton plant is an annual, in Natal it is a perennial ; I have seen 
 them nine years old. Cleaning the ground should not be omitted. If weeds 
 take up the nourishment between the rows, the plants will not thrive so well. 
 
 The ground between should in short be turned over every year. It has been 
 suggested that mealies might be planted between the cotton ; but at any rate, 
 it should I think be only for the first year. In such cases both are liable to be 
 neglected, or the gathering of one may interfere with the other. Mealies are 
 also temptatious to cattle, which would do the cotton also no good. Pruning 
 has been proved advantageous, producing more pods. The strength of the 
 Natal cotton harvest is from January to the end of March. It is then that 
 a farmer would wish for a large family to send his children into the plantation. 
 
 The more the merrier. But if he has none, he can still employ the colored 
 women and children of the country. These go through the grounds gathering 
 the cotton from every open husk, leaving those unopen for another gathering. 
 
 Unless gathered perfectly matured there is difficulty in separating the cotton 
 from the seed ; and moisture then being in the seed and fibre, the cotton is 
 liable to become mouldy and consequently w'eak in fibre. When gathered it is 
 placed in open sheds and soon becomes perfectly dry. It is then fit for 
 cleaning , — the long staple cotton being separated from the seed by a roller gin; 
 the short stapled on the old system by the saw gin. Those among the 
 emigrants w r ho intend going largely into this article, should make themselves 
 acquainted with the last improvements in the construction of machinery for 
 this purpose ; and perhaps they could not do better than apply to the Secre- 
 tary of the Commercial Association, Manchester, on the subject. In making 
 this reference to him, I trust that Gentleman w'ill excuse my doing so, the 
 object being a public one, and no person likely to be able to advise so 
 correctly. 
 
 A gin or cotton cleaning machine has lately 7, been invented, which costs > 
 
 about £3 : and I hope, shortly after arrival in the colony, most of these 
 emigrants w 7 ill keep one of their own. 
 
 In 1847, there were consumed in England, 898,500 bales ; in 1848, there 
 were consumed 1,154,900 bales, in 1849, just 2,000,000 bales. 
 
 No limit can be assigned to our wants if w 7 e are to continue to retain the 
 exclusive supply of cotton manufactures to our own population and to our colo- 
 nies. 
 
 Land fresh brought into cultivation in the United States will yield on an 
 average, only 7 from 250 to 300 lbs. of clean cotton. In the Old States the 
 produce is not so much. An able bodied labourer there, although a slave and 
 without the stimulus which inspires an Englishman, is sufficient for eight acres 
 of land, if assisted in the lighter work by the young and the aged people who 
 belong to their families. The whole will at the same time be able to cultivate 
 from five to eight acres of provision ground. 
 
 In America there are about two millions of slave people engaged in the 
 cultivation of cotton. In England there may be about the same number of 
 people engaged in working it up into different kinds of fabrics. 
 
 I have already mentioned that the cotton plant prefers the vicinity of the 
 sea, particularly in dry countries, and the interior districts of naturally damp 
 climates. So that it may be supposed that it is not merely temperature by 
 which the quality of cotton is affected, but a peculiar combination of heat, light. 
 
109 
 
 and moisture: and although Geogia has hitherto been supposed to combine these 
 advantages in greatest proportion. Natal will probably vie with that district : 
 it has an extensive coast ; the heat is equal to Georgia ; frosts are unknown, 
 except in the mountains ; the atmosphere is bright and brilliant : the soil is 
 peculiarly suited, being a light sand, which cotton prefers, and kept in a 
 perpetual state of moisture by a subsoil of clay. 
 
 The cotton plant, which is an annual elsewhere, becomes perennial in Natal, 
 whereby much labor is saved and a greater yield obtained, 
 i In London, Natal uplands cotton has been sold at from 5|- to 7d. per lb., and 
 cotton grown from the Sea Island seed Is. 3^d. per lb. 
 
 TOBACCO. 
 
 Among the actual products of Natal, next to cotton, none is more worthy 
 the increased attention of the colonists than tobacco. It is not an anticipation 
 or belief of the suitability of the soil and climate, upon which the assertion 
 is made, but from the fact that the plant is already extensively grown, though 
 not much cultivated or artificially improved. It is already, and has for years 
 been, an article bought and sold in the colony. 
 
 I have not only seen good tobacco grown from Havanna seed in Natal, but 
 good segars made from it. If the Natalians encourage the manufacturer, 
 who is settled near Pietermaritzburg, some thousands pounds of hard cash may 
 be kept in the colony. Good snuff is made by the .Zoolus. 
 
 The term “Petun” is supposed to have been the original name for 
 Tobacco. When the plant was first introduced in Spain, the word “Tobacco” 
 was applied to it, and it was generally supposed to have been from the island 
 of Tobago ; but this was erroneous : it was discovered in Tobaco, a province 
 of Yucatan, whence it was first carried into Spain. Soon after, Sir Walter 
 Raleigh made it known in England, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth ; it was 
 used in smoking by ladies of quality. The stern Queen herself is said to 
 to have countenanced it by her masculine example ; and the author of 
 “ Biographia Britannica ” states that “It soon became of such vogue at her 
 court, that some of the great ladies, as well as the noblemen therein, would 
 not scruple to blow a pipe sociably !” 
 
 But the object of this paper is not to relate the progress of tobacco in 
 Europe, nor to condemn its use, — but to endeavour to direct the attention of 
 the Cape agriculturists to its culture on a large scale throughout the colony. 
 Except in clayey soils, or in situations greatly exposed to the influence of the 
 south-east winds, tobacco may be grown in any part of South Africa ; and 
 bearing in mind this fact, and considering the hundreds of thousands of acres of 
 land there are in the settlement adapted to its production, it really seems 
 almost incredible that the colony pays at the present day a large sum annually 
 for the importation of this article from Rio de Janeiro, North America, &c. 
 If the colony can produce 360,000 lbs., it is quite incontestible that it can 
 produce 3,600,000 lbs., or indeed an unlimited quantity. Is it not then a re- 
 proach to us, I ask, to continue to purchase an article from foreigners, with 
 which experience has demonstrated that we can furnish ourselves ; and not 
 only furnish ourselves, but supply our neighbours ? 
 
 We all know what prodigious results have crowned the perseverance of the 
 Cape Colonists in the raising of wool, of which they last year exported 
 nearly £700,000 worth. — England imports 32 million lbs. of cotton from 
 America. Let this suffice. 
 
 That no one may plead want of information on the subject, we now give 
 the “ Directions for Raising Tobacco,” which appeared in the Cape Directory 
 for 1831. The document is worthy of most attentive perusal. It is written 
 in a purely practical style, by an experienced man ; and it contains hardly a 
 
110 
 
 superfluous word. We will merely add, in conclusion, that as the low price of 
 wine has the effect of throwing vineyards out of cultivation, it is not im- 
 probable that the soil might be more readily transferred to the culture of 
 tobacco than of any other article, as it appears that “ a square yard of bed, if 
 made with care, will grow and support 50,000 plants of tobacco.” 
 
 DIRECTIONS FOR RAISING TOBACCO. 
 
 Upon a small spot of good land, well dug and cleaned, put a quantity of 
 bushes ; burn them and rake the ashes equally over it : mix the seed with a 
 handful of fine sand, and sprinkle it over the bed : do not rake it in, but let a 
 man walk over it with naked feet ; protect the bed with bushes from the cold 
 winds ; and if the weather proves dry, water it occasionally. 
 
 The seed may be sown in the month of June, and not later than July; 
 when they have five leaves they may be transplanted ; or when the plants are 
 about four inches high. 
 
 The land must be ploughed or dug with spades, and made as light 
 as possible. Whatever land suits wheat will do for tobacco. If the 
 land is poor it should be well manured ; and if you have not manure 
 enough for the whole field, put a good shovel full into each hiil. When your 
 ground is ready, and your plants of a proper growth, take the first op- 
 portunity of rain, and draw out all the plants that are fit ; plant them 
 three feet apart every way ; the field should be previously marked out 
 . , . OOOO and every hill should he turned over with 
 
 m ns manner q q q q the hoe, to make the ground as light as 
 
 possible : a servant should then drop one plant at each hill, while others are 
 putting them in the ground, which should be done in a gentle manner, that 
 the leaves may not be bruised ; the field should always be kept free from 
 weeds, and should the weather prove dry, before the plants begin to grow, they 
 should be watered ; as the plant advances pick off the dead leaves, near the 
 bottom, and when about two feet high, pinch off the top of every plant with 
 the nails of the finger and thumb. To prevent seeding you must now care- 
 fully pinch off" every sucker, which will every day make its appearance, and 
 reduce the number of leaves of each stalk to twelve, by pulling off the lower 
 leaves ; when the edges and points of the leaves begin to turn a little yellow, 
 the tobacco is ripe, and should be cut off close to the ground ; this must be 
 done when the weather is fine, and there is no dew upon the plant ; as soon 
 as cut it should be immediately carried into the house upon sticks about five 
 feet long, and hung up; your house must be entirely close, and no air suffered 
 to penetrate : upon this care depends all your success. The house should 
 always be dry. 
 
 When the stalks begin to turn brownish, and the leaves are yellow, take 
 the advantage of a cloudy and wet day, and take the plants off the sticks, put 
 them carefully into a bin or large shed, with heavy weights upon them, and let 
 them so remain for twelve days ; then take them out, strip off the leaves 
 (throwing the stalks away) and place them again in the same bin with heavy 
 pressure, and let them remain thirty days, observing always that the air must 
 never be admitted. You are then to take out your tobacco, and tie the leaves 
 in bundles of sixty, and it is then ready for the market ; but never expose it 
 to the air, and in all these little operations a cloudy or wet day is absolutely 
 necessary. 
 
 Always let a few good plants remain upon the ground for seed ; the tobacco 
 will grow up after cutting, and produce abundance of seed ; but this seed is 
 by no means so good as that of the first growth. 
 
Ill 
 
 Where water can be used, two crops of tobacco may be made in one year ; 
 the first crop always succeeds without artficial irrigation ; but the second crop 
 cannot succeed without it. 
 
 No sort of shaded situation will do for tobacco. 
 
 Twenty men, with the assistance of a few children to pull off the suckers 
 and other light work, ought to make twenty hogsheads of tobacco of 1,000 lbs. 
 each. The packages might be most conveniently made in ox-hides of 500 lbs. 
 each. A square yard of bed, if made with care, will grow and support 50,000 
 plants. 
 
 The plants are sometimes destroyed by the grub soon after transplanting, 
 but spare plants are always ready in the bed to replace them. The caterpillar 
 and other insects, so troublesome and destructive in America, are unknown in 
 this country, at least I never saw them in the Swellendam district ; the locust 
 will sometimes do mischief, when it visits the country, which 1 believe does 
 not happen more than once in three or four years. 
 
 The only enemy tobacco has in this country is the south-east wind, but 
 there are many millions of acres that are wholly beyond its reach. The land 
 cannot be too much worked. In Virginia, however, they have never time to 
 plough more than twice ; the crop ripens in three months, and thus interferes 
 not with the corn harvest. In a former note I observed that all ground fit for 
 wheat would also grow tobacco. This observation will not hold in this coun- 
 try, as I find upon inquiry that all the wheat land of this colony is clay : 
 tobacco will not do well in clay ground — a light sandy loam is the best soil. 
 The horse hoe will save immensity of labour, but the hand hoe will be neces- 
 sary to clean the plants once or twice in the season, where the horse hoe can- 
 not reach ; a dexterous hand will, however, complete the work with the horse 
 hoe. In Virginia, tobacco is planted in the same ground every other year, 
 provided it can be well manured. New land always makes the finest tobacco. 
 Upon the whole I am convinced that the finest quality of American tobacco can 
 be raised in this colony with much less trouble, and with more certainty of 
 a good crop, than in America. 
 
 [The folio wing remarks on the cultivation of tobacco in America are the pro- 
 duction of a well-informed man, and may be introduced here with advan- 
 tage, as the practical reader will now have an opportunity of comparing the 
 method of culture practised in America with that recommended for adoption 
 in this colony, in the above treatise.] 
 
 ON THE CULTURE OF TOBACCO IN VIRGINIA. 
 
 Fifty pounds weight, or two bushels of tobacco seed would be sufficient to 
 plant the whole state of Virginia ; some say a surface equal in extent to the 
 United states. The seed is never gathered, indeed is not ready till the fall of 
 the year ; and no planter keeps on hand more than is requisite for his own 
 use. 
 
 Respecting the culture of tobacco, I shall communicate the process adopted 
 throughout Virginia, premising that success depends upon the soil, situation, 
 climate, and season. New ground, virgin soil, produces the best description ; 
 plant-beds, for the reception of seed, are prepared in the fall, in rather a moist 
 situation, of pure vegetable mould, minutely pulverised, entirely freed from 
 weeds ; having the surface completely scorched by burning brushwood, or 
 shavings of wood upon it. The seed is sown much after the manner of 
 cabbage-seed, about as thickly and as deeply, and raked in; this is done during 
 the month of February. Early in May, according to the season, or during 
 that month, the plants are removed to the field, and are placed out on hills. 
 
112 
 
 raised above the surrounding surface from eight to twelve inches, at distance 
 varying according to the strength of the soil, from three by four to four by 
 five ; thus the rows are four feet apart, as with Indian corn, and the hill in 
 the row three feet distant from each other. 
 
 The plants are allowed to stand unmolested till they begin to throw out 
 suckers, which must he carefully removed by hand, as often as they appear. 
 By hoeing or ploughing all weeds must be kept under, as with corn or 
 cabbages in a garden ; when the plant has thrown out eight or twelve well 
 sized leaves, according to the strength or richness of the soil, it must be 
 topped ; by which is meant, if the ground be rich, twelve leaves may be left ; 
 if poor, only six or eight ; the best way is to leave only six to ten. The plants 
 being kept free from worms or caterpillars, which prey upon them, are left to 
 stand until they are perfectly ripe ; — this is determined by the thickness of the 
 leaf, and the crackling sound produced by breaking it ; they are then cut with 
 a knife, and placed upon poles, horizontally exposed to the sun for several 
 days, till they die, and become of a yellow or brownish hue ; care meantime 
 being taken that they be not exposed to rains, or very heavy dews. 
 
 From the field, hanging on the same poles, they are removed into log- 
 houses, and hung upon the roofs. Under them, during wet weather, slight 
 fires are kept up, the smoke ascending from which dries the stem and prevents 
 mould ; after hanging thus three or four weeks, the plants are, when in a very 
 dry state, taken from the poles, and carefully packed on the dry floor, and 
 covered with straw, to guard them from frost. If the winter be very wet, 
 they are several times hung up, and dried partially with the smoke of wood 
 fires, and replaced in bulk. Finally, in the month of May, the plants are all 
 hung up, and allowed to remain till a tolerably warm and moist day, when 
 they are taken down, and the leaves being kept from the stalk, are tied up in 
 bundles of six to seven leaves each, with a leaf binding them together, and are 
 thus packed carefully into hogsheads — 1,200 to 1,500 lbs. are put into each 
 • hogshead, the but- ends of the tobacco touching the cask, and the points 
 directed inwards to the centre. 
 
 Smoking is injurious; and if the season be sufficiently dry and warm, it is 
 better to cure the tobacco entirely by the aid of the sun. 
 
 INDIGO. 
 
 If Indigo can he cultivated as cheaply at Natal as it now grows luxuriantly, 
 it will be another important article of Export. The consumption of England 
 alone is about 2,250,000 lbs. per annum. It should add immensely to the 
 wealth of Natal ; I have no doubt that with good laws as regards laborers we 
 shall compete with India. 
 
 The coloured people of Natal, although capable of industry, are not yet 
 habituated to the cultivation of this comparatively minute plant. It is also 
 more uncertain than cotton, more expensive in its manufacture, and rather 
 deleterious to the health. Mr. Indigo Wilson at Natal has tried it, and his 
 samples have been declared to be worth 3s. 4d. to 3s. 6d. per fb. He has this 
 year (1849) fifteen acres under cultivation and therefore we shall soon be able 
 to speak positively. The process of fermentation, drying, &c., on any scale, 
 entails heavy expense ; and while labor may be so well employed in cotton 
 and other cultivation, that of Indigo being one of speculation, is not to be 
 recommended to the attention of the recent emigrant. Such pursuits will 
 be followed in due course. The soil in many places is covered with this 
 indigenous plant ; so that on this score there is no difficulty ; but planters 
 want experience and laborers want training. 
 
113 
 
 PLANTING AND PREPARING INDIGO. 
 
 The land must be perfectly clear from weeds. If moist, the land must be 
 made perfectly dry. Seed should be narrow drilled a foot apart. Rainy 
 season is the best for sowing, otherwise the seed heats before germination can 
 take place. The crop is fit for cutting in two or three months, and this may 
 be repeated in rainy seasons every six weeks. The plants must not be 
 allowed to come into flower, as the leaves then become dry and hard, and the 
 Indigo is not so valuable. The plants must not be cut in dry weather, other- 
 wise they will not spring again. A crop in India usually lasts two years. 
 
 Being cut, the herb is first steeped in a vat till it becomes macerated, and 
 has parted with its coloring matter. Then the liquor is let off into another 
 vat, in which it undergoes the peculiar process of beating to cause the fecula 
 to separate from the water. This fecula is let off into a third vat, where it 
 remains for some time ; and is then strained through cloth bags, and evapo- 
 rated in shallow wooden boxes placed in the shade. Before it is perfectly dry, 
 it is cut into small pieces of an inch square, and finally packed in boxes or 
 sewn up in bags for sale. It is probable that Indigo may be cultivated with 
 greater certainty in Natal, than in India, where they are more subject to hail- 
 storms, which injure the plants. In Bengal there are more than three hundred 
 Indigo manufacturers. The quantity manufactured in India now is about eight 
 and a half to nine million pounds weight, worth from £2,700,000 to £3,000,000. 
 In 1828, the produce was twelve million pounds; and yet fifty years ago 
 the manufacture of Indigo in India had not been attempted, all being imported 
 from Spanish America. Thus there is hope again for Natal. 
 
 “ Mr. Wilson, who has grown the most Indigo in the Colony, states that his 
 attention was first forcibly drawn to the cultivation of this material, by some 
 seed imported by Mr. Kenlock, from India ; and after a few experiments, the 
 writer succeeded in manufacturing some samples, and this encouraged him to 
 try indigo planting on a more extensive scale. For this purpose he allowed 
 all the plants to run to seed, and intended to plant equal quantities of Bengal 
 and native indigo. He states, that the country abounds in a variety of species 
 of indigo, which he found to be rich and abundant, and to be used by the 
 natives, who call it Umpekumbeto. On more extended investigation, he 
 found that Natal possesses more species of indigo than the whole world 
 besides. Hence he infers that this part of the African continent is its native 
 soil and climate, where it would thrive if cultivated. He had obtained from 
 the 1- 140th part of an acre, the proportion of 3001b. of indigo per acre; and 
 had ascertained that the plants would cross successfully. He observes, £ It is 
 along the coast that we must chiefly look for cultivable land, at least for cotton 
 and similar productions; which has also the advantage of being near the port. 
 It also has the advantage of an abundance of natives, that great blessing 
 of Natal, which a great many people seem anxious to have removed ; but 
 without them, though the country were as fruitful as an Eden, it would avail 
 us nothing. The time is fast approaching when we shall hear the colonists 
 saying, * I wish there were more natives.’ He adds, ‘ The growth of indigo is 
 said to be somewhat uncertain, but in my opinion, if cultivated in conjunction 
 with cotton, it will not be subject to so many casualties, and will be found a 
 valuable article of exportation.’ He says, ‘ Just fancy from 300 to 500 lbs. of 
 indigo per acre, at 5s. per pound.”* 
 
 * The price is too high, 3s. 6d. is high enough to calculate on. — Ed. 
 
114 
 
 SILK CULTURE. 
 
 From the decided success which attended the efforts in Silk culture of 
 Mr. Olmsted, a gentleman of East Hartford, in Connecticut, nine of the 
 United States offered premiums in encouragement of the culture, and it is 
 more than probable that several other states have since followed the example. 
 
 One of the advocates of silk culture, in alluding to the (so called) “ mania” 
 prevalent in favour of it, sa}^, time was when the incipient cultivation of 
 cotton was doubtless described as a “ cotton mania;” and yet, after a com- 
 paritively short period in the history of mankind, one State alone, that of 
 Georgia, had already achieved an annual cotton export, valued at no less than 
 five millions of dollars. In respect to silk, one of the early experiments of 
 Mr. Olmsted was made upon one-eighth of an acre of land, cultivated and 
 planted with the mulberry 3|- feet apart, on the previous year. The results 
 were 1194 lbs. of mulberry leaves, which fed 32,000 silk-worms, producing 
 nine bushels of cocoons, from which we obtained nine pounds of silken material 
 fit for sewing silk. Subsequent trials were still more satisfactory, and Mr. 
 Olmsted was at length able to pronounce that even in early days 100 lbs. of 
 sowing silk, worth den dollars per lb., might be obtained from a single acre, 
 making an annual produce of more than ^'200 value, in English money, . 
 besides supplying profitably the thinnings of the mulberry plantation for a 
 market. 
 
 More recent accounts describe the culture as spreading far and wide from 
 Maina to Florida. The mulberry tree chiefly in request is the Moras Multicau- 
 lis, commonly known as the Chinese mulberry, of which millions of cuttings 
 are sold during a single season. One successful grower is known to have sold 
 500,000 plants or cuttings in two years, and to have made 30,000 dollars by 
 his labours. 
 
 We need scarcely assure our horticultural readers, that every kind of 
 mulberry thrives admirably in this colony, and may be grown to any extent. 
 
 It may be remarked too that silk culture is an employment in which people 
 of all ages and conditions and both sexes, may find amusement, recreation, 
 and even solace. Besides which, in recommending the cultivation of the 
 mulberry, we need feel no hesitation ; for the tree being of rapid growth, is 
 calculated to become quickly ornamental, to every rural dwelling and home- 
 stead, and its extension in gardens, orchards, or plantations, would be the 
 means of providing a large present supply of wholesome and delicious fruit, 
 and a most certain means of ensuring the future production of a much 
 admired material, and a pre-eminently valuable article of export. We hope 
 the day is not far distant when every rural inhabitant of South Africa will add 
 to their vines and fig-trees, the cultivation of the mulberry, and some know- 
 ledge of the manufacturing worm so wonderfully appointed to provide for the 
 personal wants and commercial uses of mankind. 
 
 (The above shows the hopes entertained of growing silk in the Cape Colo- 
 ny. At Natal there is reasonable hope; frost is less common than in Italy or 
 Murcia ; the wild mulberry is common ; there is no doubt that this article will 
 succeed to admiration. A commencement has been made in Mauritius.) 
 
 A silk plant, in the cup something between cotton and dandelion, exists in 
 the colony and deserves attention. The fibre is strong, three inches in length, 
 and would answer it is supposed for Hats, &c. 
 
 In 1842 the quantity of raw silk consumed in England was 3,146,705 lbs., 
 of waste, knubs and husks, 1,343,815 lbs., and 246,651 lbs. of thrown, total 
 4,757,171 lbs. Averaging the price at 15s., we have the amount of £3,567,877 
 sterling. India is the only English possession whence we derive a pound 
 
115 
 
 of this article of such vast importance. And yet the Cape, perhaps, might 
 produce the whole of it. Remembering wool, let it not be thought a rash ex- 
 pectation that Cape silk will yet vie with China, Indian, Modena or Valencia, 
 or Brussa. The Cape soil is exactly suited for the growth of the mulberry 
 tree. Miller observes that it delights in a rich light earth, and where there is 
 depth of soil. In a stiff soil, or in shallow ground, whether of chalk, clay, or 
 gravel, the trunk and branches are commonly covered with moss, when the 
 fruit is small, ill-tasted, and ripens late. Abercrombie says, the mulberry 
 thrives well in a deep sandy loam, and succeeds in a fertile mellow ground, 
 having a free situation in the full sun. It, therefore, appears that soil and sun 
 are particularly in favour of the cultivation at the Cape. In England the 
 mulberry is planted in grass plots, or pleasure grounds, as a standard tree, but 
 sometimes as an espalier or wall tree. Its propagation is more successful 
 with layers, cuttings, or graftings, than with seed. In Spain and India, and 
 also China, the white or silkworm mulberry is always propagated by cuttings, 
 three or four being planted together so as to grow up into a bush. At 
 Munich, where the white mulberry is propagated extensively for feeding the 
 silkworm, the finer varieties are grafted on the common seedlings. The dwarf 
 mulberry thrives quite as well as in China ; but the common silkworm is not 
 in the colony. Among the wild moths, which spin their cocoons among the 
 shrubby plants of Africa, is a species nearly as large as the atlas, whose food 
 is the leaves of the Protea Argentea. This worm might be turned to some ac- 
 count, as it resembles the insect of India which spins the strong silk known /, ■ 
 
 by the name tussack A Home consumption in 1811, raw, 3,146,705 lbs. ; • 
 
 waste, knubs, and husks, 1,343,815 lbs.; thrown, 266,651 lbs.; in 1849, the 
 quantity imported into England was about 5,264,425 lbs., and the value about 
 £4,000,000. Raw and thrown silk, unless dyed, is duty free. 
 
 FLAX AND HEMP. 
 
 We have been shown within the last few days a sample of New Zealand Flax, 
 
 (Phormium tenax) grown on the farm Orange Grove, on the Kareiga River, 
 
 Eastern Colony, Cape of Good Hope, in this district. This sample, which is 
 said to be of good quality, has been raised without any difficulty, or particular 
 attention, this climate being, as far as can be judged, particularly suited to its 
 production. Of a million cwt. of Flax, used by the home manufacturers, 
 more than two thirds are obtained from Russia, and hence, the importance of 
 introducing this valuable product into those colonies which are suited to its 
 growth. Flax seed, usually called Linseed, is also valuable in the English 
 market, while for the oil from the crushed seeds there is also a constant and 
 remunerative demand. 
 
 On this important article Mr. Barrow writes thus: — “The Cape might also 
 be rendered valuable to the state on which it may be dependent, by the culti- 
 vation of the different kinds of hemp for cordage and canvass, and which might 
 be carried on to an unlimited extent. The Canabis Sativa, or common hemp, 
 has been long planted here as a subtitude for tobacco, but its cultivation was 
 never attempted for other purposes. When sown thick in the ground, as in 
 Europe, it shoots up exactly in the same manner, ascending to about the 
 height of eight feet, and giving, to all appearance, a fibre of equal strength and 
 tenacity to that where it is usually cultivated, and it requires very little trouble 
 in keeping the ground clean. The different plants of India, cultivated there 
 for the purpose of hemp, have been found to grow at the Cape fully as well as 
 in their native soil. Of these the most common are the Rabinia canibina, 
 affording a fibre that is durable under water, and on that account used in the 
 
east for fishing-nets and tackle. The jute of India ( corchorus olitorius,) 
 thrives very well, as does also the Hibiscus Cannabinus, whose leaves of a 
 delicate subacid taste, serve as a salad for the table, and the fibres of the stem 
 as a flax fit for the manufacture of cordage. A native species of Hibiscus, 
 which I brought from the vicinity of Plettenberg Bay, yields a hemp of an 
 excellent quality, perhaps little inferior to that of the Cannabis, or common 
 hemp, which is most unquestionably the best material yet discovered for the 
 manufacture of strong cordage. The Janap of India, Crolularia Juncea, from 
 which gunney bags are manufactured, seems to thrive well at the Cape in 
 the sheltered situations, but its slender stem is unequal to the violence of the 
 south-easterly gales of wind. Home consumption of foreign hemp in 1841, 
 was 621,515 cwt.; duty on colonial dressed, 2s. per cwt.; undressed, Id. per 
 cwt. Flax and tow, or codilla of hemp and flax, raw 1,338,213 cwt.; dressed 
 
 or undressed, Id. per cwt. , „ 
 
 Om- i>txx 
 
 INDIAN COEN. o rm- * 
 
 Indian Corn or Maize. No cereal plant is so productive, nor, for general 
 purposes, so valuable in a household, as Indian corn. Two out of every three 
 grains planted, may be calculated to yield. Each produces two or three cobs 
 or heads, and each of these yields from 200 to 450 grains. The unripe cob 
 put hefore the fire, with a little butter, pepper, and salt, is a dinner fit for the 
 children of a squire. It may be pounded and made into bread in its green or 
 turning state, when it is a complete delicacy. As flour, it is wholesome and 
 strengthening ; in porridge, pies, and puddings, it is excellent. A recent re- 
 port respecting the agriculture of Lombardy, (Italy) made to the British 
 government, says, — “ It is worthy of remark that the sawyers of the Alps, 
 although they scarcely taste any other food than ‘ Polenta,’ (a sort of pudding 
 made from Indian corn,) and drink only water, are stronger and less exhausted 
 by labor than the inhabitants of the plain, who use both animal food and 
 wine.” It is the same at the Cape. The natives, finding it grow with so 
 little labor, cultivate nothing else, to any extent. In Natal, I have seen it 
 growing on high lands without irrigation ; but in low lands, watered, the crops 
 are surprising. In Natal it is common to see Indian corn at the same season, 
 in every degree of maturity, some rising from the ground, some full ripe. 
 
 Aloes. — This plant is indigenous to Natal, and may be made a valuable 
 article of export. Its manufacture is so well understood that the simple pro- 
 cess adopted in the colony requires no improvement or instruction. 
 
 Colombo Root. — This may be made an article of export to some amount. 
 The root is dug up, cut in slices, and dried on cords in the sun. It is a drug 
 useful in dysentery, cholera morbus, and many other diseases. 
 
 Castor Oil. — A valuable plant, indigenous to superfluity. And if farmers 
 and others would use this oil in the colony, and export their superfluous fat or 
 convert it into soap, colonial wealth to a certain extent would be obtained, 
 rendering us independent and unindebted for imports from Europe. 
 
 To prepare Castor Oil. — The seeds are taken out while the pods are turning- 
 brown ; bruized in a mortar, then tied up in a linen bag, then thrown into a 
 large pot with a sufficient quantity of water (8 galls, to 1 gall, of seed,) 
 and boiled till the oil is risen to the surface, when it is carefully skimmed off 
 and kept for use. Thus prepared, the oil is entirely free from acrimony, and 
 stays on the stomach when it rejects all other medicine. 
 
 The London College of Physicians directs this oil to be pressed from the 
 seeds in the same way as the oil from almonds, and without the assistance of 
 heat, by which the oil would appear to be obtained in its purest state. It 
 grows round old cattle kraals in great abundance, costs nothing, and sells 
 well. 
 
Gum, Acacia Arabia. — This drug may be very extensively collected and of 
 a very superior quality. 
 
 Coffee. — The Mocha coffee grows on the African coast, and the berry has 
 been successfully tried at Natal. Every cottager should grow his own, and 
 export several hundred weights to England. Natal appears to be well suited 
 for it, not being subject to frost. 
 
 Tea — will probably do well, Natal being exactly the same latitude south as 
 the China tea district is north. The plant grown by the natives for tea, and 
 another used by the Dutch, are aromatic, agreeable, and refreshing. Unless 
 people are fastidious, importations of tea are unnecessary. 
 
 Olive Oil. — Much of Natal resembles the country about Seville, in Spain. 
 The wild olive grows now, and no doubt the true olive will thrive : but it will 
 require six to ten years probably before it will carry fruit. 
 
 Coal — is in abundance in localities. Copper supposed to be so. 
 
 Woods — equal to the Cape, fit for furniture, building, &c. 
 
 Bees’ wax and honey — are found extensively. 
 
 Sheep’s Wool — may be grown in the mountainous parts and also collected 
 in the interior. Before the Dutch left, Natal exported 42001bs. 
 
 Tallow — should be an article of export even after making their own soap 
 and candles. 
 
 Ivory. — Some in the country, and great quantities will be collected from 
 the Dutch, and the Zoolus. 
 
 Hides. — Great quantities ; — Natal should make its own leather. 
 
 Bark. — Mimosa is an excellent tan. 
 
 Wheat. — I have been requested to reiterate the fact that Natal will produce 
 fine wheat. — In 1844 Natal exported wheat. The upper districts are the best 
 for wheat, but I have seen fair wheat grown within twenty miles of the Port, 
 on a soil thrice turned and without any dressing. 
 
 Beans — should be extensively cultivated : they pay well for the Mauritius. 
 
 Butter — ditto ditto Mauritius will take large quantities. 
 
 Mules. — A most profitable animal to rear for Mauritius. 
 
 Horses. — Fine horses should be reared in Natal ; and then the demands of 
 the East India Company may be met there, sending them forward in the emi- 
 gration ships and thus saving considerably in freight. The East India 
 Company’s last shipment of horses to Madras cost £23 14s. 4 d. in the Cape, 
 which would be a remunerating price for the farmer of Natal. 
 
 While giving these hints for the future, let me hope that the agricultural 
 societies in the colony will be encouraged to pursue their efforts so well begun. 
 Practically, Mr. Morewood, near Umvoti has done much for the colony, while 
 the adjoining land, equally good, exhibits no improvement. Mr. M. has 
 shewn that the land is capable of producing almost every kind of grain, 
 vegetable, and fruit. Some of his land is like a Middlesex nursery. 
 Reader, are you a bounty laboring emigrant of twenty-five or fifty acres ? 
 Go and do thou likewise. If properly treated as regards your lot, you should 
 make your freehold a garden. I have heard a Scotchman in Natal say that 
 there was many an acre in the Colony which would support an industrious 
 family. 
 
Statement of the various Woods growing in the Cape of Good Hope and Natal. 
 
 W 
 
 CD 
 
 I 
 
 £ 
 
 p 
 
 aS 
 
 CD 
 
 P 
 
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 * Notwithstanding this name, the assagai wood is not used by the natives for their assagais or lances — these are usually made of a species of salvia, 
 t A species of the teak. t Splits well, clean grained. § African Lignum vitae— when large the heart is quite black. |j Known only to the eastward. 
 
 a J A strong astringent in cases of dysentery. 
 
120 
 
 SYMPTOMS OF LIFE. 
 
 Pout Natal Agricultural and Horticultural Society. 
 
 The Committee of the above Society gives notice, that the First Exhibition 
 of Produce, &c., will be held at D’Urban in July or August, 1850, — the pre- 
 cise date will be published in a future advertisement. 
 
 The following Prizes will be awarded : — 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 1 Cotton — For the best bale of 200 lbs 5 0 0 
 
 2 For the second best, ditto 300 
 
 3 Indigo — For the best 10 lbs 200 
 
 4 For the second best ditto 100 
 
 5 Coffee — For the best 10 lbs * 100 
 
 6 Sugar from Cane, Maize, or any other source, for the 
 
 best 25 lbs 200 
 
 7 Tobacco — For the best 25 lbs. 100 
 
 8 Wheat — For the best Schepel .. 200 
 
 9 Barley — For the best Schepel 100 
 
 10 Oats — For the best Schepel 100 
 
 11 Butter — For the best keg of not less than 28 lbs., and at 
 
 least two months old 3 00 
 
 12 Cheese — For the best .. 100 
 
 13 Hams — For the best two 100 
 
 14 Bacon — For the best flitch 100 
 
 15 Potatoes — For the best Schepel 0 10 0 
 
 16 Yams — For the best 20 lbs 0 10 0 
 
 17 Onions — For the best Schepel . .. 0 10 0 
 
 All the above named Specimens to be the produce of the District of Natal. 
 
 18 For the best Essay on the cultivation of Cotton, based on 
 
 local experience 3 00 
 
 19 For the second best ditto 100 
 
 20 For the best Essay on the Agriculture in general of this District 3 0 0 / 
 
 21 For the second best ditto 100 
 
 22 To the introducer of the greatest number of useful Plants and 
 
 Seeds, not previously introduced .300 
 
 23 For the best Kiln for drying Grain 3 00 
 
 24 To the exhibitor of the best Horse-hoe or Ox-hoe for weeding 
 
 Cotton, &c 200 
 
 25 To the exhibitor of the best Drill Machine for sowing 
 
 Beans and other Seeds 100 
 
 Should any difficulty be experienced in deciding on the relative merits of < 
 any specimens of Cotton, they are to be sent to England to be valued by some 
 respectable Broker or Manufacturer. The value per pound of the Cotton will 
 be one point only of merit ; should it be found that a cheaper kind can 
 be grown more economically or profitably, it will rest with the. judges which 
 should carry the prize. Competitors are therefore requested to send in 
 Statements of the Produce per acre, Expenses of Cultivation, &c. 
 
 The merits of the Essays will be estimated not so much by their literary 
 perfection as by the amount of useful information, records of experiments, 
 facts, figures, and dates which they may contain. 
 
 JOHN TURNER, Secretary. 
 
 D’Urban, May 30th, 1849. 
 
121 
 
 SEEDS, &c. 
 
 All Seeds are adapted to the Colony of Natal; but the following, from thejf 
 prolific and hardy qualities, will he good in making an assortment : — 
 
 Peas, — all kinds of dwarf in preference to runners. Beans, — ditto. Car- 
 rots, — short red and long Altrigham. Broccoli or Kail, — all sorts. Mangle- 
 Wurzle, — not wanted for cattle, American Cress. Cucumbers, Melons, and 
 Pumpkins, thrive well. Vegetable Marrow, — fine useful vegetable, and will 
 suit the country well : one kind is indigenous. Rhubarb. Parsnip, — red, best. 
 Turnips, — no use. Cabbage, — all sorts. Spinach, — not wanted. Kidney 
 French Beans, — dwarfs. Parsley, — curled. Leeks, Shallots, and Onions, 
 answer well. Lettuce, — all kinds. 
 
 All kinds of Herbs thrive well, and not cut by the cold. 
 
 Grain . — Wheat, — -choose those kinds not liable to rust, and having solid stalks. 
 Barley, — short straw. Oats, — ditto. 
 
 Tobacco, — (Indigenous,) Havana and Virginia seed. 
 
 Indigo, — ditto India and Guatemala. 
 
 Fruit Trees, — all sorts, including Nuts, Acorns, Fir and Larch in the Cone. 
 (All these should be fresh, and packed in sugar.) 
 
 Seeds generally going a voyage should be mixed with straw fine chopped; 
 and packed in dry brown-paper and wicker baskets, hung up in the cabin. 
 
 The importation of a few Devonshire and Short-horned Bulls, (not more 
 than three years old,) small size, may be recommended. Good Dogs valuable. 
 
 An improved breed of Pigs is desirable. 
 
 TOOLS. 
 
 The following List of Tools may be recommended to those who have the 
 means, by which one is rendered independent and able to accomplish one’s 
 own work, almost unaided, except with the assistance of a black servant. 
 Woods being hard, Tools should be good. 
 
 A set of Harrow Teeth, with necessary iron work. 
 
 1 Scotch Plough complete, and iron work ; or one of Ransom’s. 
 
 1 Steel Mill. 2 Flour- sieves. 
 
 2 Spades. 2 Shovels. 2 Grubbing-axes. 6 Sickles. 
 
 1 Cross cut Saw. 2 Hand Saws. 2 Axes. 1 Adze. 
 
 2 Claw Hammers. 12 Augers. 2 Gimblets. 
 
 2 Spike Gimblets. 1 Screw-driver. 1 Spokeshave. 
 
 1 Jack-plane and spare iron. 1 Smoothing- plane and spare iron, 
 f Doz. Chisels. 6 Tumbler Padlocks. 6 Hasps and Staples. 
 
 Bolts, Hinges, Latches, Locks. 1 Gross Screw's. 
 
 Nails, Hurdles, Batten, Paling, Shingle, and Rafters, each 14 lbs. 
 
 7 lbs. Flooring Brads. 7 lbs. Spikes, various. Clout and Clasp Nails. 
 
 The above may he procured of Messrs. F. Barnes & Co., 109, Fenchurch-st. 
 To which may be added, if means allow': — 
 
 American Axe, Hoes for clearing ground, Pit Saws, Mason’s Tools, and 
 Gardener’s Tools. Thrashing Machine, and one for cleaning Mealies. 
 Mill-stones. Wagon-maker’s Tools, Drag Chains and Iron 2^in. w'ide. 
 Brick and Tile-making Machine may be very profitable, Us clay and water 
 may be found all over the country. Rough Earthenware may also be 
 manufactured. Machine for cleaning and pressing cotton. 
 
 L 
 
] 22 
 
 SUGGESTED OUTFIT FOR RESPECTABLE MALE U 
 
 EMIGRANTS. 
 
 Cotton Shirts, 3 dozen. Coloured do. 1 do. Duck, Drill, or Corderoy 
 Pantaloons, 1 dozen pair. White or coloured Socks, 4 dozen pairs. Jackets, 
 Jean or other light article, or small Shepherd-plaid, clearing the saddle, 6. 
 Old Suit of worn clothing. No goods recommended to be taken for sale , 
 1 Dozen Towels. Hair Mattrass. 1 Pair Blankets. 3 Pairs Sheets. 6 Pairs 
 Shoes or Boots. 
 
 Saddles and Bridles for small Grass Horse. 
 
 Double-barrelled Percussion Gun, or Double barrelled Rifle, large bore, 
 large shot, and bullet-moulds. (Game large and plenty.) 
 
 Take as little furniture as possible; all legs should be made to take off by 
 screw, to save space and avoid breakage. 
 
 No finery in clothing is required at Natal. Short Jackets are usually the 
 order of the day. Save your money for better objects, and that will return a 
 profit. 
 
 That respectable class, the hard working emigrant may make a change from 
 the above : — 
 
 2 Jackets, clearing the saddle; 2 pairs Cotton, Drill, or Corderoy Trowsers, 
 and 2 Duck; 2 Duck Frocks; 12 Cotton Shirts; 2 pairs Shoes; soft Felt 
 Drab Hat; 6 Handkerchiefs; 6 coarse Towels; 6 pairs Stockings; Mat- 
 trass, 6ft. by 20in.; 1 pair Blankets; 2 pairs coarse Sheets. 
 
 Wife may take 2 dark Gowns; Caps; Bonnet; 1 dozen Shifts; 2 Flannel 
 Petticoats; 2 pairs Stays; 2 pairs Shoes; 6 coarse Towels; 6 dark Aprons; 
 
 6 Hankerchiefs ; 6 Night-gowns, and Night-caps; 1 Cloak; 6 pairs dark 
 Hose; Work-bag, and appurtenances. 
 
 PORT CHARGES. * 
 
 The only charge on Shipping is Pilotage, at the rate of 4s. 6d. per foot on 
 the water the Ship draws. 
 
 PORT DIRECTIONS. 
 
 The following are the simple directions given me by the late respected Mr. 
 
 John Douglas, who was for some years the Captain of the Port. + 
 
 For anchoring off the Bar ; bring the outer point of the Bluff to bear S.W. 
 by S. two miles distant, and the Flag-staff on the Sandy-point West, in eight 
 and a-half fathoms water, the best anchorage. 
 
 For Crossing the Bar in making sail from the outer anchorage, bring the 
 beams on the Bluff in one as soon as possible; which will lead clear till within 
 thirty fathoms of the Beacons, when you must keep the land on the Larboard 
 hand, about thirty fathoms distance, till you open the Custom House, where 
 you must haul short up for the Inner anchorage. November, 1848. 
 
 Captains of vessels will find Captain Hadden’s directions for making Port 
 Natal, in the Nautical Magazine for 1838. 
 
EXPENSES MEASURING LAND AT NATAL. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 Up to 10 acres 
 
 . . 1 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 For every acre above 10 to 100 
 
 . . 0 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 For 100 acres. . 
 
 .. 2 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 For every acre above 100 to 250 . . 
 
 . . 0 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 For 250 acres. . 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 For every acre above 250 up to 500 
 
 . . 0 
 
 0 
 
 G 
 
 For 500 acres. . 
 
 . . 4 
 
 18 
 
 9 
 
 For every acre above 500 up to 1000 
 
 . . 0 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 For every 1000 acres 
 
 7 
 
 0 
 
 5 
 
 For every acre above 1000 
 
 . . 0 
 
 0 
 
 0^ 
 
 For 2000 acres 
 
 . . 9 
 
 2 
 
 0 
 
 OVERLAND ROUTES TO NATAL. 
 
 I. Route from Colesberg, in the Cape Colony , to Pietermaritzburg , 
 
 for a horse waggon. 
 
 Colesberg to Philippolis, good accommodation at the Rev. Mr. 
 Thompson’s, London Mission 
 
 Touw Fontein, A. van Wyk, good accommodation. Here the 
 7th Dragoons defeated the Dutch Farmers in 1845 
 Boom Plaats, Mr. Wright’s, no accommodation. Here the late 
 fight took place, August, 1848 
 Kalver Fontein, C. B. Viljoen, good accommodation 
 Bethanie, Berlin Mission, good accommodation at the Rev. Mr. 
 
 Wuras 
 
 Bloem Fontein, (Queen’s Port,) Military Post 
 Keerom, Mr. van Zyl, good accommodation 
 Windburg, a village. . 
 
 Sand River, Mr. de Neckar, no accommodation 
 Liebenberg’s Valley, moderate accommodation, a small house 
 belonging to a colored man, clean and accommodating . . 
 
 Eland’s River, no house 
 
 Op Drakensberg, no house, good water and grass. . 
 
 Klein Dongela, Cobus Potgieter, river often impassable, good 
 accommodation .. .. .. 
 
 Bosjesman’s River, Cobus Oosthuisen, river sometimes impas- 
 sable, good accommodation. . 
 
 Mooi River, seldom impassable 
 Pietermaritzburg 
 
 6 hours. 
 
 1 
 
 li 
 x 2 
 
 7i 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 4 
 
 o 
 
 5 
 
 9 
 
 87 hours. 
 
 The road is generally good, level, and well defined as far as the Drakenberg, 
 beyond which it is described as hilly and difficult. 
 
 II. To Natal from Burghers Dorp in an ox waggon, by Buff els Vallei, or 
 Aliwal North. This is the shortest route. 
 
 Burghers Dorp to Buffels Vallei . . . . 2 days. 
 
 Ghoosbergen . . . . . . . . 1 
 
 Caledon . . . . . . 1 
 
 Riet River . . . . . . . . 1 
 
 Blesberg . . . . . . . . 1 
 
124 
 
 Vet River. . . . . . . • . . 1 
 
 Doom Kop . . . . . . . 1 
 
 Sand River . . . . . . r . 1 
 
 False River • . . . • 1 
 
 Elands River . . . . . . . . 1 
 
 New Years River . . . . . . 1 
 
 Draakensberg . . . . . . . . 1 
 
 Pietermaritzburg . . . . . ■ .. 5 
 
 18 days. 
 
 Average rate of travelling, 25 miles per diem. 
 
 POST REGULATIONS. 
 
 PIETERMARITZBURG. 
 
 Tuesday, — Departures. — The Government Post, conveyed by a mounted 
 military orderly, leaves for D’Urban at noon. Private letters may be left at 
 the Colonial office ; no charge made, except for letters intended for transmis- 
 sion out of the colony. 
 
 Wednesday, — Arrivals. — The Natal Witness Express arrives from D’Urban 
 in the evening. If in time, letters are sent round immediately on their receipt, 
 and a charge of 3d. made for delivery, or otherwise they are delivered on 
 Thursday morning. 
 
 Friday,' — Departures. — The Natal Witness Express starts from the Witness 
 office, 23, Church-street, at noon, for D’Urban. All letters must pre-pay 3d. 
 
 Saturday, — Arrival.- — The Government Post arrives about noon from 
 D’Urban, and Bushman’s river. > 
 
 In cases of the arrival or departure of vessels, extra posts are despatched. 
 
 The Government Post for Bushman’s river, and Klip river Division, also 
 leaves on Saturday. 
 
 D’URBAN. 
 
 Tuesday, — Departure.— The Natal Witness Express leaves Mr. R. 
 Clarence’s Store at 10 o’clock. Letters must pre-pay 3d. 
 
 Wednesday, — Arrival — The Government Post arrives about noon, from 
 Pietermaritzburg. 
 
 Friday, — Departure .- — The Government Post leaves the Camp for Pieter- 
 maritzburg. 
 
 The Overland Mail, once a fortnight, for the Cape, reaches in fourteen days. 
 
 Thus it is possible to write to England every fortnight, by way of Cape 
 Town; and also from Port Natal whenever vessels may be sailing direct to 
 England. 
 
 A second English Newspaper is published in Pietermaritzburg weekly. 
 
125 
 
 PIETERMARITZBURG, 1849. 
 
 Just now Natal is a comfortable little colony; presenting to the prudent 
 emigrant a fair and fertile field for the investment of his industry, skill, and 
 capital. 
 
 After six years of anarchy, and three of order, affairs are beginning to wear 
 an aspect of steady progress. There is, however, this remarkable feature in 
 her present history, that since the expiration of anarchy, and during the reign 
 of order, the exports have diminished most fearfully.* 
 
 With this fact in view, it may seem paradoxical to speak of any other 
 progress than that to ruin. The measure of our ways and means, is the 
 criterion by which we estimate our strength for the accomplishment of any 
 progressionary movement, especially in a newly established settlement, where 
 the beginning — that most difficult of difficulties — has to be made. And 
 whence are ways and means to come, from legimate sources, while vessels are 
 flocking to our port, laden to the deck, and being sent empty away? 
 
 \et we venture to assert, in the face of this startling fact, that there are 
 ample grounds for hope, encouragement, and enterprise ; and that there are 
 numerous symptoms of gradual and steady progress. 
 
 At our sea-port town, Government has laid out, and sub-divided, several 
 blocks of erven, some of which have been sold, and others granted to dis- 
 charged soldiers, with the stipulation, in the latter cases, that buildings should 
 be erected within six months from the issuing of the Title Deed. This has 
 given an impetus, whose results are visible in the rapid advancement of the 
 town, and the rise in the value of land in the vicinity. 
 
 The sub-division of farms in that direction, and the establishment of 
 numerous homesteads of extents that bespeak intentions of useful possessions, 
 are also favourable indications. The presence of an unusual number of 
 vessels in the harbour, of newly arrived emigrants in the town, and the 
 flourishing appearance of our agricultural progress, are so many confirmations 
 of our views as to the prospects of this colony. 
 
 In our own vicinity, Pietermaritzburg, we are not without equally animating 
 sources of hope. Peace and tranquility reign in every direction. Trades- 
 men are fully employed ; traders are increasing apparently both in numbers 
 and wealth ; the tone of society is improving, with the arrival of new comers 
 of respectabdity, intelligence, and capital ; the number and character of our 
 schools is satisfactory, ministers of various sects are arriving amongst us, 
 places of worship are adequate to our wants, and in a social point of view every 
 thing bids fair for advancement. 
 
 Beyond the town limits, surveyors are at their important work of civilizing 
 the surface of the country with their theodolites. Mr. Greaves in one direc- 
 tion, Mr. Okes with Mr. Boshof on his inspection tour, Mr. Bird at the Klip 
 River, and Mr. Green laying our beautiful suburban allotments of from 50 to 
 100 acres, for emigrants with industrious habits and limited means. 
 
 As far as we can learn, the farmers in the D’Urban, as well as in this, and 
 the Klip River, and Weenen Divisions, are settling down quietly, and bid fair 
 to replenish the land hitherto a garden left to the care of luxuriant nature. 
 
 With the inspection of farms, and the fixing of boundaries, we have a 
 chance of contentment among the agriculturists, arising from a sense of 
 security against wanton trespass, vagrant squatting, and any future quibbles as 
 to rights, titles, occupation, and the like, that have so long withered the 
 
 * This is the experience of all new countries, even of California Imports go to the 
 pin chase of land from original settlers and from Government; whereby they are paid 
 for, and the equilibrium of trade is not disturbed. 
 
126 
 
 energies of our landholding colonists. The arrangements, too, used in 
 accomplishing these ends, imply, at least to a certain extent, the collection and 
 settlement of the natives; a movement second in importance to no other. 
 
 Notwithstanding the lightness of our exports, the imports increase, and seem 
 to find a market that warrants confidence in our commercial transactions 
 generally. We have no announcements of wild speculations ; no tottering 
 towers of mercantile embarrassment, nor any suspicions of rottenness. To 
 back these views, we have several ramifications of trade that are daily opening- 
 wider for the reception of enterprise. On the one hand lies the Zulu country, 
 into which traders are carrying their goods in exchange principally for cattle 
 and ivory ; while, on the other, we have central Africa, overspread with 
 farmers, and these again surrounded and intermingled with natives, who are 
 being converted into customers for civilized wares. Thence come cattle, cash, 
 ivory, hides, and horses. Within our own territories, also, the natives are 
 rapidly acquiring a taste for clothing themselves, and are by no means devoid 
 of tact in the art of bartering beads, blankets, &c., with more distant tribes. 
 
 Among other symptoms of progress to be met with, are the buildings now 
 in progress, and the prices realized for town and country allotments of land ; 
 as also the large herds of cattle and horses that are finding their way into the 
 colony, to stock the farms now about being occupied after inspection. 
 
 Simultaneously with these advances, we are thrown into more frequent and 
 direct communication with Mauritius, and the Cape, as also with England. 
 The colony is attracting attention, and its capabilities are being carefully 
 enquired into by respectable parties intending to emigrate, or who are active 
 in the formation of associations, or the execution of emigration plans. 
 
 We stand, therefore, in the attitude of advancement, looking towards 
 prosperity. We have peace, health, and resources that only require develope- 
 ment. All that nature can do, or Providence promise, is done and promised. 
 
 But the present favorable combination of circumstances must be improved. 
 Resources, however, numerous, are worthless without developement ; ad- 
 vantages, however great, may be lost for want of foresight and energy to turn 
 them to account. Improvement is necessary to progress ; and after each 
 colonist has surveyed his own flocks and herds, he naturally turns to the 
 common estate, to examine the cause of its lagging behind, with an anxious 
 desire to give the men at the helm an unmerciful nudge. 
 
 It behoves our Government to consider the sphere of usefulness, and scope 
 for action, that now lies prepared to be entered upon : and to count the fa- 
 cilities for local improvement and advancement for w 7 hich they are responsible. 
 There is no extraordinary let or hindrance to prevent the execution of any 
 reasonable plan for promoting the interests of the country, and there are 
 a variety of pressing calls upon their attention. 
 
 Having settled the agriculturists, and got their ploughs fairly to work, the 
 next point to be gained, will be the appointment of means for the speedy, 
 economical, and simple adjustment of disputes, which will include the enforce- 
 ment of contracts. The scattered and mixed character of our colonial popu- 
 lation will doubtless require the exercise of judgement, and perhaps of inven- 
 tion, but anything will be easier than the neglect or evasion of the task. 
 
 The way being clear for raising produce to any amount, it must not be 
 allowed to rot, or consume its value in transmission. Even streams of wealth 
 cannot flow without channels. Roads, those conducts to prosperity — must 
 be made. This is a government work, and its neglect will entail evils which 
 nothing can remedy. In the absence of roads, instead of exporting our corn 
 we must import our flour : instead of extending our commercial adventures, 
 high prices, small demands, and a decrease in imports, will be the result. 
 
Once produce is abundant, and land carriage facilitated, the anxiety already 
 expressed for more frequent and regular postal arrangements could be raised to 
 its highest pitch. Even now the pressure of business is such as to demand 
 immediate attention to this matter. An overland mail should be run at least 
 monthly, and the transmission of letters and papers should not be left to the 
 irregularities of chance. [We now have it fortnightly.] 
 
 With the colonists, too, there are duties to be performed. The agricultural 
 interests might be materially assisted by the devotion of a few hours to the 
 formation and conduct of an association similar to those formed in every other 
 part of the world. A company might be advantageously set on foot for 
 buying up suitable allotments of land for letting or selling to deserving 
 emigrants : and the intellectual character and standing of the community 
 might easily be enhanced by the origination of societies kindred in spirit and 
 aim with those that grow into influential and useful bodies among every other 
 civilized people. 
 
 Nor is it merely the customership of the farmers that will be attracted and 
 enlarged. Eeyond them reside tribes whose produce is equally valuable, and 
 whose demand for British manufactures is said to be rapidly on the increase. 
 Again these tribes are known to be endowed with an intuitive perception of 
 mercantile matters, and in their turn become our carriers to still farther 
 interior regions. In this way Port Natal becomes the door to central Africa, 
 and the whole country will one day pour in its wealth through the market- 
 house of Pietermaritzburg. 
 
 With so extensive a sphere for enterprise, and so fair a prospect for the 
 success of that enterprise, it is of the highest consequence that the circum- 
 stances of our position should not be lost sight of, and that every facility 
 should be made avadable, for connecting our market with the regions referred 
 to, and every obstruction should be removed out of the way. 
 
 THE COLONIES OE ENGLAND. 
 
 The Colonies of England, a noble forest they ! 
 
 They all are sprung from England, that ancient glorious Tree. 
 
 The freedom of the air has made her branches grow ; 
 
 The roar of her tempests expands the roots below. 
 
 The stars they all are God’s ; that galaxy is His, — 
 
 Old England is His favour’d land; the Colonies are His. 
 
 Victoria is our Governor, and Britain’s noble Queen, 
 
 She rules of right o’er England, and all the seas between. 
 
 Then firm around old England, that ancient noble tree. 
 
 Our birthright is true freedom, we claim like liberty : 
 
 We claim our lights, will have our rights, of freedom will partake. 
 Our birthright is true freedom, nor did we that forsake. 
 
 Now lay the keel, — now step the mast, — now put the ship to sea; 
 For here are lands for future bands of Britons fair and free: — 
 
 Then welcome all from England, that ancient glorious hive. 
 
 For with the Anglo-Saxon hive, the Colonies shall thrive. 
 
 What land was that which cried aloud, “ Of Britain we are proud,” 
 What Isle was that which echoed loud, “Of Britain we are proud ! ” 
 The Oak replied unto the breeze, — “these are my Colonies; 
 
 In distant lands and seas, my Oaken Trees, the Colonies.” 
 
IMPORTS, EXPORTS, AND SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. 
 
 An Account of the Staple Articles, the Produce of the Colony of Natal, Exported in the Years 1846, 1847, and 1848. 
 
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 do. 5th January, 1848 46,981 8 
 
 do. 5th January, 1849 46,204 6 
 
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130 
 
 COLONIZATION OF NATAL. 
 
 Certain Persons desirous of obtaining information respecting this Settlement, 
 having proposed a series of Questions, the following Ansivers have been 
 
 supplied by the Local Government . 
 
 ANSWERS. 
 
 1st. The general physical character of Natal is undulating Plains, with 
 numerous Table Lands, cut through at intervals of 6 or 8 miles by Rivers, 
 which arise at various distances from the Sea, and take (for the most part) an 
 Easterly course, thus effectually draining and watering all parts of the 
 district. 
 
 Wood adapted for Building purposes and Furniture is found in the Valleys 
 of Rivers, in Kloofs (Ravines), in the high Lands, and in a belt extending 
 along the Sea Coast. 
 
 No Minerals, with the exception of Antracitic Coal (which occurs far in the 
 interior), have yet been found. 
 
 ‘2nd. Government Land is only sold by auction, at an upset price, not less 
 than four shillings per acre, unless where it has been so put up and remains 
 unsold, then it may be obtained at the upset price on the payment of the 
 whole purchase-amount. The terms of Sale are Ten Shillings of the Pur- 
 chase-money and the Surveying Expenses to be paid at the Sale, and the 
 residue one month after, in default of which the Ten Shillings is forfeited to 
 Government. Land may be purchased of private parties, but not of the 
 Natives. 
 
 3rd. A Company cannot obtain Crown Land at a less upset price than 
 four shillings per acre. 
 
 4th. Surveyors must pass an examination at the Office of the Surveyor 
 General, give the necessary security, and be authorised by Government to 
 practise as such, if sub-divisions are made for the purpose of transfer. 
 
 5th. Transfer Deeds are executed and delivered at Natal. 
 
 6th. Beyond the payment of the Surveying expenses and Purchase-money 
 on the issue of Title-deeds from the Crown, a charge of twenty-five shillings 
 is made on the purchase of Land from private parties ; four shillings on the 
 purchase is payable to Government and ill Is. fee on each Transfer: a small 
 charge for Stamps is also made. 
 
 7th. Land sold by the Crown is Freehold, and pays nothing to Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 That which has been granted to private individuals is subject to an annual 
 Quit-rent at the rate of «£4 per 6,000 acres. Quit-rent redeemable by pay- 
 ment of 15 years’ purchase. 
 
 8th. No conditions on Freehold Titles. Quit-rent Lands are required to 
 be cultivated, or otherwise made use of, in such manner as the Land may be 
 capable of. 
 
 9th. Draining of Land is left to the option and interest of Settlers. 
 
 10th. A Company is permitted to locate its Settlers on any Land which it 
 may purchase, without the interference of Government. 
 
 11th. Public Roads are made and kept in repair by Government. 
 
 12th. No allowance is made to those who deposit i’100 to take out seven 
 adult labourers. 
 
 13th. No fees on landing are demanded by Government. 
 
 14th. No Vessel should attempt to enter the Bay until after signalizing 
 with the Flag Staff of the Port Establishment, when an efficient Pilot will be 
 
sent on board, who will take charge of the Ship and bring her in, provided the 
 wind and tide are favourable and the bar safe. 
 
 15th. Vessels intended to enter the Port of Natal should not draw more 
 than 11 feet water, the amount of Tonnage is of course immaterial. 
 
 16th. The harbor is buoyed and beaconed. 
 
 17th. None of the Rivers of Natal, except Port Natal, are navigable in 
 any part of their course, nor can they be made so. 
 
 18th. All the Rivers, in some part or other of their course, and many 
 smaller Streams, have sufficient fall for Flour Mills. 
 
 19th. The Government does not interfere in Ecclesiastical affairs, and 
 Ministers of every denomination are permitted to exercise the Duties of their 
 Office. 
 
 20th. No Tithes or Taxation for the established Church. 
 
 21st. The Government will grant Sites for the building of Churches, but 
 makes no other allowance. 
 
 22nd. Settlers are not obliged to erect a Church. 
 
 23rd. The Zuloos are a peaceably disposed people, fond of cattle, and their 
 own customs. Their wants being few they have not much inclination to 
 work, but they are useful to the White Settler, and are not given to cattle 
 stealing, like the Natives on the Cape Frontier. They are a dark race. 
 
 24th. They very generally cover themselves with a blanket. About 
 100,000 Natives are distributed throughout the district. They are gradually 
 being collected into Native locations. 
 
 25th. Good trained working Oxen £3 each ; Fat Cattle £3 5s . ; Zuloo 
 Cattle £1 10s. to £2 10s.; Cows (common) £2 10s. to £3 10s.; Sheep 
 (Cape) 10s.; Pigs 10s.; Horses £10 to £20; Fowls 4s. per dozen; Ducks 
 Is. 6d. to 2s. each; Geese and Turkeys 9s. to 12s. each. 
 
 Most of the above animals are abundant. Good Fish may be taken in 
 great quantities on the Sea Coast, the few caught in the Rivers in the interior 
 are of a worthless kind. Useless dogs abound in the district, good ones for 
 hunting and shooting are rare and valuable. Wild Fowl are not generally 
 numerous, but they may occasionally be obtained. 
 
 26th. Farming and Gardening Implements should be imported. Horse 
 Gear will not be of much use in the present state of the district. Oxen being 
 generally used for Agricultural purposes ; good Saddles and Bridles should be 
 brought out. 
 
 27th. There is no Steam communication between the Cape and Natal, 
 but there are several Trading Vessels. 
 
 28th. All the European Vegetables may be grown in Natal. Good Seed 
 Potatoes are much wanted. 
 
 29th. All Garden Seeds should be brought out. Beans do well and are a 
 useful Vegetable here; Apple and Pear Trees grow well, but few have been 
 grafted ; whether these Fruits will attain perfection, there is no experience 
 to prove. 
 
 30th. Pine Apples, Water Melons, Bananas, and Yams thrive well, 
 Plaintains have been introduced. 
 
 31st. No Ale or Porter Breweries have been attempted. It is, however, 
 believed that they could be established in the higher parts of the District, and 
 at Pietermaritzburg, in the winter; whether Malt could be made, is a question 
 which must be decided by experiment. The Climate is far too warm either 
 to malt or brew in the summer season. 
 
 32nd. Good Timber for Ship-building purposes is found in the District. 
 The Trees are of great variety, and have not yet been botanically examined ; 
 
132 
 
 Acacias are the most abundant. A few of the Palm tribe and tree Ferns 
 enliven the scenery. 
 
 38rd. Government does not provide Wood or Fuel, in case there be none 
 on the Land allotted to their Settlers. 
 
 34th. Clay for Brick-making occurs in most parts of the District. Finer 
 for Pottery is occasionally found. South of the Umgini it is not yet known 
 that there are any Minerals. 
 
 35th. Owing to the great variations in temperature. Woollen and Cotton 
 Wearing Apparel should be brought out, but in the cases where both kinds 
 cannot be afforded. Woollen should be preferred. Cotton (and not Linen) 
 Shirts, Sheets, &c. should be used ; warm Clothes are required for the 
 W T inter in the higher parts of the District. On the whole, light Woollen 
 Wearing Apparel is best adapted for the Country. 
 
 36th. The Line on the Map is a Road, in constant use, and that part 
 between D’Urban and Pietermaritzburg is now undergoing great improve- 
 ment. 
 
 By order of the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, 
 
 Government Emigration Office , 
 
 9, Park Street, Westminster 
 March, 1850. 
 
 S. WALCOTT, Secretary. 
 
 IS NATAL SUITABLE FOR EMIGRANTS ? 
 
 Replies given by a Committee appointed for the purpose by the Government 
 
 in the Colony. 
 
 1. The smallest quantity of land which can be bought of the Government 
 depends upon the situation, the land being divided into as many small lots as 
 the locality will admit of, giving to each its fair proportion of wood and w'ater, 
 and which has been from 10 to 1500 acres, except in town allotments, which 
 vary from a quarter of an acre to two acres. 
 
 2. The upset price of town and country allotments in the seaport town of 
 D’Urban is £100 per acre, each lot being in extent about one-third of an 
 acre. In the town of Pietermaritzburg, the seat of Government, and in other 
 towns, price £50 an acre. Suburban allotments £1 per acre. Country lands 
 are offered at an upset price of 4s. per acre. These upset prices are sometimes 
 raised under peculiar circumstances. 
 
 3. Government lands rarely fetch more than the upset price, owing to the 
 great extent of private property in the market. 
 
 4. There is so much available open land, that clearing has not yet been 
 necessary. There are therefore no data on which to found any calculation 
 as to expense of clearing. N. B. There are miles and miles in extent without 
 even a bush. 
 
 5. The cost per acre of clearing waste lands for the drag or harrow has not 
 been ascertained. See 4. 
 
 6. Bushy land costs most in clearing. 
 
 7. There is a public office to ascertain wdiat lands already surveyed are 
 ready for sale at Pietermaritzburg and D’Urban. 
 
 8. Crown lands cannot be occupied previous to survey, but private property 
 may. 
 
 9. On application for crown lands that have not been offered for sale, the 
 
133 
 
 survey takes place as soon as possible. There is always a quantity of land 
 that has been offered for sale available for immediate purchase, 
 
 10. In all cases where the crown lands selected have been offered at public 
 sale, they may be obtained on payment of the purchase amount and surveying 
 expenses. Where the land selected has not yet been put up for sale, it will 
 be necessary to advertise it for three months previously to its being put up by 
 auction at the upset price ; possession may be obtained immediately after the 
 purchase. With reference to private lands it may be stated that purchases 
 may be made previously to survey. 
 
 1 1 . Information as to the validity of titles may be easily obtained at the 
 Government Offices. A fee of 2s. 6d. is charged in the transfer office for 
 every search, where all mortgages are registered. All arrears, if any, must be 
 paid before transfer of these properties or any portion of them will be allowed. 
 Mortgages are not often met with, but when they have been effected, the pur- 
 chaser must, as a matter of course, arrange with the seller as to the mode of 
 paying them off, either on transfer, or allowing them to remain at the current 
 rate of six per cent, per annum. 
 
 . 12. The crown reserves to itself the right of making roads over all lands 
 without compensation to the owner, except on those parts on which buildings 
 may actually stand at the time, and also the right of fixing out-spans (halt- 
 ing places, where the draught oxen and horses may graze) on the lines of road. 
 
 13. There is a quit-rent payable on farms that have been granted by the 
 crown, at the rate of £4 per annum on 6000 acres, all arrears of which must 
 be paid up before any transfer of the property, or any part thereof, can be 
 effected. There is a charge of four per cent, on the purchase amount on all 
 private sales of landed property : a further fee of one guinea for title deed, 
 surveying charges, and a stamp duty, as follows. The only charge on titles to 
 property purchased from the crown is a fee of £1 5s. 
 
 Tariff of Duties in lieu of Stamps payable in the District of Natal. 
 
 N.B, Transfer Passed in the Office of the Registrar of Deeds. 
 
 From 
 
 £1 
 
 0 
 
 to 
 
 £7 
 
 10 
 
 £0 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 9 9 
 
 7 
 
 10 
 
 9 9 
 
 18 
 
 15 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 9 
 
 9 9 
 
 18 
 
 15 
 
 y r 
 
 37 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 > > 
 
 37 
 
 10 
 
 yy 
 
 75 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 y> 
 
 75 
 
 0 
 
 yy 
 
 187 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 y > 
 
 187 
 
 10 
 
 9 9 
 
 300 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 12 
 
 0 
 
 yy 
 
 300 
 
 0 
 
 y 9 
 
 375 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 15 
 
 0 
 
 yy 
 
 375 
 
 0 
 
 9 9 
 
 500 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 yy 
 
 500 
 
 0 
 
 y y 
 
 750 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 yy 
 
 750 
 
 0 
 
 9 9 
 
 1250 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 0 
 
 y y 
 
 1250 
 
 0 
 
 99 
 
 1875 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 9 9 
 
 1875 
 
 0 
 
 9 9 
 
 2500 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 15 
 
 0 
 
 
 Upwards 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 14. The settler may advantageously bring with him agricultural and gar- 
 dening implements, as well as seeds of all kinds. But his probable inexperience 
 in the nature and fluctuations of the market, and the expenses of carriage, 
 duty, &c., render it inadvisable for him to divest himself of his means by 
 speculating in investments of any kind. Good bills, letters of credit, or specie, 
 are generally to be preferred. 
 
 15. Farming stock, furniture, clothes, ironwork, saddlery, &c., may be had 
 in the colony, but, of course, at colonial prices for cash. 
 
 16. At present no exact estimate can be made of the profits of any agri- 
 
 
134 
 
 cultural undertakings, but from ihe entire absence of failures, there seems to 
 be every prospect of success where industry and prudence are exercised. 
 
 17. The sea coast land is better adapted for tillage and grazing. The land 
 in the interior is generally suitable to both. The Klip River is best adapted 
 for cattle. 
 
 18. Farms are supplied with water from springs, streams, or rivers. Such 
 a thing as a well is not knoicn in the colony, nor puddles, ponds, &c. 
 
 19. If a comparison can be made, the upper parts of the settlements are 
 considered the best. The colony throughout is well-watered and fertile. 
 
 20. No temporary occupation of crown lands is allowed. 
 
 21. Cattle farms average 6000 acres. 
 
 22. Farms mav he hired, but the homesteads on them have now fallen into 
 dilapidation ( since the treking of the Boers'). The only farm we are aware of 
 being let, is one of 4000 acres near the Port at £90 per an., and 1500 acres 
 near P. M. Berg, at £15 per annum. The former has a dwelling upon it, the 
 latter none. 
 
 23. The prices of cattle vary from £2 10s. for a cow and calf, to £7 10, 
 acording to the breed and state of the market. The increase is reckoned at 
 75 per cent, per annum. Grazing costs comparatively little or nothing, as 
 it is considered advantageous to have cattle running on land. 
 
 24. In order satisfactorily to commence agricultural operations, it is desi- 
 rable to possess a capital of, say £500. 
 
 25. See No. 22. 
 
 26. With reference to the success or failure of crops there are not sufficient 
 data to form a definite opinion upon. See No. 16. 
 
 27. The current rate of interest on mortgage is 6 per cent, per annum ; 
 but money is not procurable at present. 
 
 28. Farmers generally erect their own houses, barns, &c., of wattle and 
 dab, and estimate the cost at £l per foot frontage of 15 deep. 
 
 29. Native servants about 5s. per month and food, costing about 5s. more; 
 European servants, no data at present to go by. 
 
 30. There are laws peculiar to the colony, regulating contracts between 
 masters and servants. 
 
 31. At each of the principal towns, public and private schools are 
 established. 
 
 32. From Table Bay to Natal every month, passage money £6 to £10. 
 Every week from Table Bay to Algoa Bay, per steamer at about £5 or £6. 
 
 33. There are no banks at present established, but letters of credit from 
 any known bank in England are available. 
 
 34. Degrees in the professions entitle the holders to practise in the colony, 
 but the sanction of the local Government and Courts must first be obtained. 
 
 35. Indentures to the legal or medical professions commenced in the 
 United Kingdom cannot be completed here. 
 
 36. Leave England without any prejudices or great expectations. Land 
 in the colony and continue a sober, steady, honest, industrious man, and 
 prosperity and success will be certain to follow. 
 
 The Rev. J. Green, Colonial Chaplain, writes from Natal to the following 
 effect : — (Vide Report of the Propagation Society.) 
 
 “ The land is beautiful, and lacks only the visible evidence of Christianity. 
 The climate is magnificent. Cloudless sky and dry weather throughout the 
 
185 
 
 winter, with sharp frosts at night. The rainy season is in the hot weather. 
 Sometimes we liave three days’ rain, but usually afternoon showers.” 
 
 The troops in Albany, Cape of Good Hope, enjoy better health than in any 
 part of England. While in England fourteen die annually in every thousand, 
 only eleven die in Albany ; and from my own experience of Albany and Natal, 
 I prefer the climate of Natal. 
 
 The first record that we have of the trade of Natal after being declared a 
 British Colony I published in 1844, and which may as well he preserved. — 
 
 “For the first quarter, British and Foreign manufactures - - £11,712 
 
 ,, second quarter. Ditto Ditto - - 9,789 
 
 Exports the first quarter were £1,348 
 
 „ second „ 4,157 
 
 and consisted of the following articles. — Butter, barley, beans, peas, maize, 
 wheat, cotton, sheep-tail fat, ostrich feathers, hides, ivory, leeches, goat skins, 
 tallow, tobacco, wool, and seeds. All which I added might be increased to a 
 great extent, adding thereto sugar, silk, flax, &c. The first year’s trade will 
 be £70,000; and in 1850 £500,000. The Natal soil will yield two crops 
 of grain in the year. Coal is reported to have been found.” 
 
 Upon this information I induced some emigrants to go to Natal in 1845. 
 At the same time I memorialized Government for 120,000 acres of land in 
 order to place thereon three hundred families ; giving 100 acres to each adult, 
 and 20 to each child. Continual applications from myself and others have at 
 last obtained the concession from the Colonial office of a principle, which if 
 extended to all our colonies, and in favor of Foreigners as well as Englishmen, 
 will double our population there in five years. Although the quantity of land 
 is not sufficient, yet Natal has reason to be grateful. Had the Dutch remain- 
 ed, and emigration been allowed as then suggested and as now allowed, the 
 above result would have been realized, and even now it is only deferred for 
 a few years. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 This compilation has been in type some months, but in consequence of Earl 
 Grey not confirming my agreement with the Natal Government, and refusing 
 to adopt the recommendation of the Land and Emigration Commissioners, I 
 have been unwilling to publish so imperfect a work. At present it is shorn of 
 its plan and actual operation, and its only merit is a map, a few sketches, and 
 concurrent testimonies to the general advantages of Natal. To prevent dissa- 
 tisfaction to the Emigrant on his arrival in the Colony, justice must be extended 
 to the party negotiating with Government. It will be observed that at first I 
 proposed to offer 75 acres to every family, though consisting only of a man 
 and his wife ; this would have been their allowance from me, instead of forty 
 acres only, as at present. The present insufficient allowance has brought com- 
 plaints and bad results, and will bring more. Unless the twenty acres given 
 to a man are irrigable, they will confer little good. The surveying fees and 
 expenses of going to the field, will counterbalance the value. My plan being 
 
136 
 
 for families only, the smallest plot, (and that cut down in consequence of Go- 
 vernment annulling my agreement,) would still have been fifty acres ; but 
 receiving the £15 bounty, each emigrant family W'ould have had seventy-five 
 acres at least. 
 
 The better plan however of colonizing Natal, is to select a good district, say 
 of six thousand acres. On it may probably be one thousand five hundred acres 
 of good arable land. This latter quantity only need be fenced, (w'hich is an ex- 
 pensive operation everywhere,) and supposing all to have paid alike, let it be 
 subdivided, share and share alike ; let each family place its cottage on its own 
 arable plot, which should be fifty acres for each couple, and proportionably 
 for children ; and the remainder four thousand five hundred acres would be 
 a common pasturage. A bailiff’ or mayor, and manor court, might be instituted 
 in each of these farms for carrying out general purposes. If one man thought 
 that he could, out of the common lands, redeem five, ten, or fifty acres, let 
 him submit his proposal to the court, and if accepted, pay for the encroachment, 
 and the money be divided amongst all the holders. The Common grazing land 
 would be diminished so much, and for the surrender, an equitable fine should 
 be imposed for the benefit of the whole community. It is of no service here 
 further to develope the plan. With a practical leader it w’ill be easy, and it is 
 far better suited to Natal than any other plan, particularly one of minute 
 subdivisions. The plan virtually embraces a system of Parishes and coopera- 
 tive Societies for every thing that is good. Instead of a Manor Court, 
 Trustees might be appointed, if preferred. 
 
 Let it again be remarked that unsuitable people should not go to Natal. — 
 Gentlemen without capital, clerks, drapers’ assistants, goldsmiths, and other 
 useless traders there, will be disappointed ; as yet there is not occupation for 
 them. Farm laborers and mechanics of the rough useful trades, and tenant 
 farmers, are the people wanted. Roughing of the world is to be expected, 
 and drawing-room people must prepare to endure these roughings, or not 
 complain after warning given. 
 
 The opinion of Mr. Galloway, of Manchester, a respected cotton cultivator 
 in Natal, appears to be, that in consequence of the want of steady laborers, that 
 cotton “at present ” will not answer. Emigration of the right kind corrects that 
 at once ; moreover the coloured people having this year paid £8000 for direct 
 taxes, shows that they must have laboured to obtain it. Their appointed 
 chiefs also now insist on their people going out to labour. Notwithstanding, 
 therefore, Mr. Galloway’s ability, I think that he has relinquished Cotton cul- 
 tivation prematurely, as the article he himself has produced gives the assur- 
 ance of ultimate success. Mr. Bergtheil’s perseverance has been rewarded 
 already, his cotton paying him 33 per cent, profit. Forty-seven bales have 
 been sold (June 19th, 1850,) at from 7d. to 17d. per lb., and were highly 
 approved. Nothing could be more satisfactory. — Mr. Bergtheil expects that 
 Natal will produce three million bales per annum. 
 
 Finally, let me remark that the Natal Cotton Company proposed at the Cape 
 ceased to be, simply in consequence of the manager having an unfavorable im- 
 pression to remove on account of a previous unfortunate circumstance, and 
 who from want of care, failed to remove it, thereby inducing the shareholders 
 in Cape Town, to refuse paying up the instalments. This was the sole cause 
 of failure. 
 
 D HAN AND SON, P HI NT KBS, THEKADNKKD LB-3THKET, 
 
137 
 
 VOCABULARY OB THE NATAL OR ZULU LANGUAGE. 
 
 Emigrants are recommended to master the following vocabulary, by which 
 means they will find that native labor, and services of all kinds, will thereby 
 be much more easily obtained. I have translated it from the French of Mon- 
 sieur Delagorgue ; and the few phrases I have subjoined, are taken from the 
 “ Inkanyezi Yokusa,” a monthly publication in the Zulu language, issued by 
 the American Missionaries at Port Natal. To possess a beneficial influence 
 over the natives, we must acquire their language. It requires practice to catch 
 the Zulu pronunciation, more especially as regards initial and terminating 
 vowels. For instance, the word Impojf, which means yellow, and which at 
 the same time designates a certain species of antelope, they use the words 
 impojf, impoffo, ompojf, ompoffe, um pojf, um-poffo. 
 
 Other words are presented under a great variety of forms; thus the word 
 which signifies a river is called in turn, om-phelene, om-felene, om-philos, or 
 nm-flos ; om-volos, folds, or volos, and volosie, or om-p/iolosie. 
 
 'I’he truth however is this, that the Zulus attach much importance to 
 euphony, and, therefore, they supply or detach a vowel or syllable for the sake 
 of musical cadence. 
 
 In this vocabulary — 
 
 A equals A in father, calm, arm, 8<c. 
 
 E ,, E in prep, or A in gale, name. 
 
 I ,, EE in meet, peel, weed. 
 
 O ,, O in note, mole, robe. 
 
 U ,, 00 in pool, boom, food. 
 
 C, X and Q. represent clicks. R is a deep gutteral H. G is always hard. 
 All the remaining characters of the Zulu alphabet have the same power as the 
 same letters have in English. No letter can have two powers. 
 
 Abandon, leave 
 Abject, miserable 
 man 
 Above 
 Absent 
 Abundance 
 Abyss, hole 
 Accompany 
 Accord 
 Administer, 
 govern 
 Admirable 
 Affliction 
 Africa, country of 
 coloured men 
 
 After 
 
 Lati schala 
 Membu, 
 
 om-phogazane 
 Pizu, pizulu 
 Ambile 
 Maninkie 
 Nogoti 
 Ambasan 
 Hithie 
 
 Sebensa zonki 
 Muschli kakulu 
 Hyshlizio gula 
 Hynzoi ka tena, 
 hynzoi ka abantu 1 
 muniama 
 Apetcheia 
 
 Again Futy 
 
 Agate, white, red Hythie mouschle, 
 
 om-schlopu, 
 bonvo, impoffo 
 Pambyle file 
 
 yellow 
 
 Agony of Death 
 Aggrandize, make 
 great 
 
 Aide de camp of 
 the king 
 Air 
 Alas 
 
 Alight, get down 
 
 All, total 
 
 Angry 
 
 Anoint 
 
 Any 
 
 Sebensa om-kulu 
 Om-duna ka 
 inkossine 
 Moea 
 Ai rname 
 Tola pannzy 
 Zonki, zonka 
 Kuatile 
 
 Schlanza pe mafuta 
 Ahi munie 
 
 M 
 
138 
 
 Antelope — 
 
 Cephalopvs 
 
 Natalensis 
 
 Monkcmb 
 
 Eleotragus 
 
 Om-schlango 
 
 Sylvatica 
 
 Ebabale 
 
 Redunca Lalandii 
 
 Knala 
 
 Strepsiceros condou Makanque 
 
 Antimony 
 
 Sebylo 
 
 Arch 
 
 Om-kuetcheylo 
 
 Arrangeable 
 
 Muschley 
 
 Arrive, arrival 
 
 Fiaga, figeley 
 
 Assasin 
 
 Om-tagaty 
 
 Assasinate 
 
 Bulala 
 
 Assegai, spear 
 
 Om-kondo 
 
 Assert 
 
 Vuma 
 
 Assuredly 
 
 Yebo (Dingaan) 
 
 (by Dingaan) 
 
 Awake 
 
 Pouma ka lala 
 
 Axe, for trees 
 
 Zimpe ka knema 
 mounty 
 
 Baboon 
 
 Om-phane 
 
 Bacon 
 
 Mafuta 
 
 Bad, silk 
 
 Goula 
 
 Bad, naughty, 
 
 
 wicked 
 
 Imbu, mombu 
 
 Ball, bullet 
 
 Om-schanvo 
 
 Balls, (gun and 
 
 Om-schanvo ka 
 
 cannon) 
 
 baye-baye 
 
 (bang-bang) 
 
 Bat 
 
 Schoutann-zebey 
 
 Bathe 
 
 Amba amannzy-ny 
 
 Beat, strike, fight Techeaia 
 
 Beautiful 
 
 Mouscheley 
 
 Bed 
 
 Om-beha, om-bela 
 
 Beef 
 
 Inkabu 
 
 Beer 
 
 Techouala 
 
 Before, anterior 
 
 Pambyley 
 
 Behead 
 
 Knema kant ka 
 montou 
 
 Behind 
 
 Apetchia 
 
 Best 
 
 Panda kakulu 
 
 Bidet, wash-stand Hache 
 
 Big, large 
 
 Umgungo, 
 
 om-kulu 
 
 Bird 
 
 Eneuney 
 
 Bird-shot 
 
 Om-schlohahy 
 
 Biscuit 
 
 Sinnqua 
 
 Black 
 
 Muniama 
 
 Bleed 
 
 Hamgazy puma 
 
 Blood 
 
 Hamgazy 
 
 Blossom, flower 
 
 Imbaly 
 
 Bone 
 
 Etambo 
 
 Botanize 
 
 Imbaly funa 
 
 Box, chest 
 
 Pongolo 
 
 Boy 
 
 Imphana 
 
 Brandy 
 
 Galogo, techuala 
 ka amaloungo 
 
 Brass 
 
 Kota 
 
 Bread 
 
 Break, bruize. 
 
 Sinnqua 
 
 shatter 
 
 Bulala 
 
 Breath 
 
 Moea 
 
 Bring, lead 
 
 Tabata 
 
 Bring back 
 
 Tabata futy 
 
 Buck 
 
 Imponnzy 
 
 Bucket 
 
 Pongolo 
 
 Buffalo bull 
 
 Eneaty 
 
 ,, female 
 
 Om-komas 
 
 Bull 
 
 Inkonnzy 
 
 Burn, burnt 
 
 Kessa, kessyley 
 
 Butter 
 
 Mafuta ka incomo 
 
 Butt 
 
 Pongolo 
 
 Buy 
 
 Tinga 
 
 Caffer bean 
 
 Om schlobo 
 
 ,, coat 
 
 Motgea 
 
 ,, corn 
 
 Mabiley 
 
 ,, guitar 
 
 Ezemkobo 
 
 Calabashes, gourds Isseva 
 
 ,, water bottles Om-kopo 
 
 Cannon 
 
 Bay e- bay 
 
 (bang-bang) 
 
 Camel 
 
 Ikamelo 
 
 Captain 
 
 Om-duna 
 
 Candle 
 
 Car, chariot. 
 
 Mafuta ka um-lilo 
 
 waggon , carriage Knueyley 
 
 Carry away 
 
 Tabata 
 
 Catch, take, seize 
 
 Bamba, bambyley 
 
 Catch, again 
 
 Bamba futy 
 
 Cattle 
 
 Inkomocazy 
 
 Cave, cavern, dell, 
 
 cellar 
 
 Nogoty hythieyny 
 
 Chat, talk 
 
 Koluma A 
 
 Chamber, room 
 
 Ischlu 
 
 Change, changed 
 
 Tinga, tingyley 
 
 Charge of a gun 
 
 Suty ka issiboom 
 
 Cheat, deceive 
 
 Kotlissa 
 
 Cherish 
 
 Tanta 
 
 Chief 
 
 Inkossy, orn-kos 
 
 Cheese, new 
 
 Amas, amazy 
 
 Chilly 
 
 Saba ka makaza 
 
 Chop, cleave 
 
 Knema 
 
 Circumsize 
 
 Knema ikomba ka 
 om tondo 
 
 Clay 
 
 Om-schlaba bonvo 
 
 Clean 
 
 Schlanza 
 
139 
 
 Climb 
 
 Amba, pezulu 
 
 Cock 
 
 Om-kuko 
 
 Collect 
 
 Tola 
 
 Complete 
 
 Souty 
 
 Compose 
 
 Innza 
 
 Coat, cloak, mantle Om-gobo 
 
 Come 
 
 Hyza, hoza 
 
 Come beforehand 
 
 Tela pambyley 
 
 Come again 
 
 Baia 
 
 Come in again 
 
 Conceal, to be 
 
 Amba suty ka 
 pangaty 
 
 silent 
 
 Tula 
 
 Confer, discourse, 
 
 Koluma 
 
 conference 
 
 Confess, 
 
 (Kolumyley) 
 
 confession 
 
 Vouma 
 
 Confiscate 
 
 Bamba 
 
 Conjuror 
 
 inianga 
 
 Cold 
 
 Makaza 
 
 Conscience, heart Hyschlizio 
 
 Consent 
 
 Vouma 
 
 Consider 
 
 Bona kaschleg 
 
 Considerably 
 
 Maninkeey kakulu 
 
 Cord, rope 
 
 Tambo 
 
 Country, region 
 
 Hynzoey 
 
 Cotton cloth 
 
 Om-duango 
 
 Cow 
 
 Inkomo 
 
 Cowdung 
 
 Bulongo 
 
 Creep, crawl 
 
 Amba pannzy 
 
 Cross, traverse 
 
 Amba apetchaea 
 
 Crush, overwhelm Bulala 
 
 Crocodile 
 
 Ingueia 
 
 Cottage, hut 
 Copulation, 
 
 Kaia 
 
 pairing 
 
 Schlabonka 
 
 Cultivated field 
 
 Mazima 
 
 Cup 
 
 Cut down, knock 
 
 Isithia 
 
 down 
 
 Cut, (make an 
 
 Knema 
 
 incision) 
 
 Knema 
 
 Curse 
 
 Om-tagaty bulala 
 
 Dance 
 
 Sina 
 
 Darkness 
 Daughter, young 
 
 Zonkey muniama 
 
 woman 
 
 Intombu 
 
 Daughter, little 
 
 
 girl 
 
 Intombazany 
 
 Dawn 
 
 Langa pouina 
 
 Day 
 
 Langa 
 
 Dead, deceased 
 
 Montu fyley 
 
 Decamp 
 
 Baleka 
 
 Decay 
 
 Fyley 
 
 Delicious 
 
 Mananty 
 
 Dense 
 
 Sinnda 
 
 Deny 
 
 Tela amanga 
 
 Descend 
 
 Amba pannzy 
 
 Desire 
 
 Tanta 
 
 Destroy 
 
 Bulala 
 
 Destroyer 
 
 Om-tagaty 
 
 Die 
 
 Fyley 
 
 Difficult 
 
 Sinda 
 
 Disavow 
 
 Knaba 
 
 Discharge, fire 
 
 Tcheaea, tobuia 
 
 Dish 
 
 Siteybe 
 
 Discourse 
 
 Koluma 
 
 Dispatch, hasten 
 
 Thia thia 
 
 Divide, separate, 
 
 cut 
 
 Knema 
 
 Doctor 
 
 Inianga 
 
 Dog 
 
 Imponnzy 
 
 Door 
 
 Vaala 
 
 Draw, dray 
 
 Tola pannzy 
 
 Drink 
 
 Poussa 
 
 Drown oneself 
 
 Fyla amannzy-ny 
 
 Drug, poison 
 
 Mouty 
 
 Duck 
 
 Madada 
 
 Dull, heavy 
 
 Sinda 
 
 Ear- 
 
 Ghlebey 
 
 Earth, the 
 
 Om-schlaba 
 
 Easy 
 
 Ali sinda 
 
 Eat 
 
 Hyssla 
 
 Eero* 
 
 DO 
 
 Makanda 
 
 Eland, buck 
 
 Om-poff, ompofFo 
 
 Elephant 
 
 Unclove 
 
 End, to border on 
 
 Amba kona 
 
 Englishman 
 
 Ghismann, 
 
 manghish 
 
 Enough, well 
 
 Kaschleg 
 
 Enter 
 
 Amba pagaty 
 
 Entire 
 
 Zonkey 
 
 Escape 
 
 Balaka 
 
 Europe 
 
 Hynzoey ka 
 abaloungo 
 
 Evening 
 
 Langa ambiley 
 
 Examine 
 
 Founa zonkey 
 kaschleg 
 
 Excellent 
 
 Pannda kakulu 
 
 Exterior 
 
 Ka pannzley 
 
 Face 
 
 Kant 
 
 Fair 
 
 Om-poff 
 
 Far, distant 
 
 Goudey 
 
 Farewell, (to him 
 
 who departs) 
 
 Amba gouschleg 
 
 Farewell, (to him 
 
 who stays) 
 
 Sany gouschleg 
 
140 
 
 Farmer, farmers 
 
 Bounn, amabounn 
 
 Fat, grease 
 
 Mafouta 
 
 Father 
 
 Baba 
 
 Feast, banquet 
 
 Hyssla 
 
 Feast, holiday 
 
 Sena 
 
 Feed a man 
 
 Nika hyssla 
 montou 
 
 Feed, to graze 
 
 Hyssla 
 
 Female 
 
 Amphasy 
 
 Fetch 
 
 Founa tabata 
 
 Fight 
 
 Gouassa 
 
 Fill 
 
 Find, obtain. 
 
 Innza souty 
 
 gather 
 
 Tola 
 
 Fine, small 
 
 Inkinani 
 
 Fire 
 
 Qm-lilo 
 
 Fire a gun 
 
 Tcheaea issaboom 
 (or better) tobuea 
 
 Fire, red 
 
 Om-luloana 
 
 Firm, solid 
 
 Manschla 
 
 First 
 
 Qmuneey 
 
 pambyley 
 
 Fix an assegai 
 
 Gouassah py 
 om-kondo 
 
 Flesh 
 
 Ezekova 
 
 Flint 
 
 Hytheey 
 
 Flour 
 
 Om-pupo 
 
 Flower, blossom 
 
 Imbaly 
 
 Fly away 
 
 Balaka 
 
 Foot 
 
 Hinnheaho 
 
 Ford of a river 
 
 Insjhley amannzy 
 ny ka om-phane 
 
 Foresee 
 
 Bona pambyley 
 
 Form, figure 
 
 Hindahho 
 
 Form, to work 
 
 Sabensa 
 
 Foster child 
 
 Inganey noninha 
 
 Fortune teller 
 
 Om-tagaty 
 
 Imbu kakulu 
 
 Frightful, ugiy 
 
 Fry 
 
 Kissa ignama 
 mafouta- ny 
 
 Fugitive 
 
 Baley kyley 
 
 Full 
 
 Suty 
 
 Fur 
 
 Ezekomba 
 
 Gallop 
 
 Amba kotjima na 
 
 hache 
 
 Game, large or 
 
 small, and flesh of Ignarnazana 
 
 Garden 
 
 Mazima 
 
 Get up again 
 
 Tola, tolyley 
 
 Giant 
 
 Montu om-kulu 
 
 
 kakulu 
 
 Giraffe 
 
 Nohounda 
 
 Give thanks 
 
 Tala 
 
 Go 
 
 Amba 
 
 Go back again 
 
 Ivoduka 
 
 Go out 
 
 Pouma 
 
 Goat 
 
 Imponnzy 
 
 God 
 
 Kos pazu 
 
 Gonorhea 
 
 Hyophaha 
 
 Good, (adverb) 
 
 Hasclilegh 
 
 Good, excellent 
 
 Pannda 
 
 Grandfather, 
 
 (father of father) Baba ka baba 
 
 Grant, give 
 
 Nika 
 
 Great, large 
 
 Om-kulu 
 
 Green 
 
 Om-schloazy 
 
 Ground 
 
 Om-schlaba 
 
 Gun 
 
 Issaboom 
 
 Gunpowder 
 
 Omzizy 
 
 ,, in the pan 
 
 Omzizy ka 
 
 Habit, custom 
 
 pannzley 
 
 Indaho 
 
 Hamlet, kraal 
 
 Mouzi 
 
 Handkerchief 
 
 Orn duango 
 
 Hard 
 
 Manschla 
 
 Hare 
 
 Momkomb 
 
 Hash, mince 
 
 Knema py zympy 
 
 Hasten 
 
 Theathea kotjema 
 
 Harangue, speech Koluma 
 
 He, him 
 
 Eana 
 
 Here, there 
 
 Nanzy, nangu 
 
 Here 
 
 Lap a 
 
 His 
 
 Y ako 
 
 Head 
 
 Kant 
 
 Heart 
 
 Hyshlizio 
 
 Heifer 
 
 Inkomokazy 
 
 Hen 
 
 Omkuko, itchuba 
 
 High, on 
 
 Pazu, pazulu 
 
 Hill, mount 
 
 Om-taba 
 
 Hippopotamus 
 
 Om-vobo 
 
 Hit, knock down 
 
 Tcheahia 
 
 Hogskin 
 
 Ikomba ka inglobu 
 
 Hold 
 
 Faga 
 
 Hold back, retain 
 
 Bamba 
 
 Hole 
 
 Nogoty 
 
 Holiday, feast 
 
 Sena 
 
 Homicide 
 
 Om-tagaty 
 
 Honey 
 
 Eneucey 
 
 Horn 
 
 Om-pondo 
 
 Horse 
 
 Plache 
 
 Hot, hasty, heat 
 
 Futemaley kakulu 
 
 House 
 
 Kahea, ischlou 
 
 How much 
 
 Man gap y 
 
 Hunt 
 
 Singuala 
 
 Hungry 
 
 Lambyley 
 
 Husband 
 
 Om-doda 
 
141 
 
 Hyena 
 
 Hail 
 
 Heaven 
 
 Idiom 
 
 Immense 
 
 In, into, within 
 
 Infant, child 
 
 Infirm 
 
 Inhabit 
 
 Jehovah 
 
 Javelin 
 
 Just, correct 
 
 Jaw-bone 
 
 Knife 
 
 Knock down with 
 a stick 
 Knock, tap 
 Know 
 Language 
 Large, wide 
 Large river 
 
 Lay on the ground 
 Leather strap 
 Legal, valid 
 Letter, message 
 Lice 
 
 Lie, it is not true 
 
 Light the fire 
 Lightning, (fire 
 above) 
 
 Linen 
 
 Lion 
 
 Liquors 
 
 Little 
 
 Lizard 
 
 Lock a wheel of 
 a waggon 
 Loriot, (bird) 
 
 Love 
 
 Low, short 
 Luggage, baggage 
 Lukewarm 
 
 Luxuriousness, 
 fulness 
 Madam 
 Magician 
 Maize or 
 Indian Corn 
 Mamma 
 Man 
 
 Empiss, empyssy 
 Nesicoto 
 Nezulu 
 Kinndaho ka 
 koluma 
 
 Om-kulu, kakulu 
 Ny 
 
 Inganey 
 
 Goula 
 
 Schlala 
 
 Yehova 
 
 Om-kondo 
 
 Kaschlegh 
 
 Mazigneo 
 
 Om-kondo 
 
 Boulala py tonga 
 Tcheahea 
 Hyazy 
 Koluma 
 Om-kulu 
 Om-phane, 
 om-philos 
 Schlala pannzy 
 Tambo 
 Mannschla 
 Niannaty 
 Om-tene 
 Amanga, ka 
 amanga 
 Bassa om-lilo 
 
 Qmlilo ka pazulu 
 Om-duango 
 Abobiss, 
 ingoneama 
 Tchuala ka eneuca 
 Inkuzana 
 Makakoya 
 Bamba inealio ka 
 knueley 
 Monkongo 
 Tanta 
 
 Inkinany-pannzy 
 
 Luto 
 
 Futemeyla 
 
 inkuzana 
 
 Mafuta 
 Inkoskazy 
 Eneaga 
 Om-beka, UIiaMjL, 
 Om-bela 
 Mamey 
 Om-doda 
 
 Man, the men, 
 
 one (man) 
 
 Montu, Abantu 
 
 Manner 
 
 Hindaho 
 
 Mania, madness 
 
 Hindaho imbu 
 
 Marrow 
 
 Marry, (to buy a 
 
 Mafuta ka atambo 
 
 girl) 
 
 Tinga intombu 
 
 Mat 
 
 Kuko 
 
 Massacre 
 
 Om-tagaty 
 
 Massive, heavy 
 
 Sinnda 
 
 Master 
 
 Om-kos, om-kossy 
 
 Me 
 
 Mena 
 
 Mead, (honey) 
 
 Mean, sorry, 
 
 Tachuala ka 
 eneucey 
 
 pitiful 
 
 Imbu 
 
 Measure 
 
 Bona mangape 
 
 Meat 
 
 Ignama 
 
 Medicine 
 
 Moute 
 
 Memory 
 
 Mid-dajr (sun 
 
 Heaze 
 
 above) 
 
 Langa pazulu 
 
 Milk, sweet 
 
 Aubiss 
 
 ,, sour 
 
 Amas, mahazy 
 
 Mine, my 
 
 Oame, same 
 
 Miserable 
 
 Om-fogazane 
 
 Miss 
 
 Intombu 
 
 Mister 
 
 Om-gaana 
 
 Mode, fashion, way Hindaho 
 
 Money 
 
 Maley 
 
 Monkey, ape 
 
 Om-kaho 
 
 M orning 
 
 Gussasa 
 
 Month, moon 
 
 Eneanga 
 
 Mother 
 
 Neuka 
 
 Mount, hill 
 
 Om-taba 
 
 Mouth of a beast, 
 
 fish &c. 
 
 Om-lolo 
 
 Murder, murderer Om-tagaty 
 
 Mutton, sheep 
 
 Scap 
 
 Much 
 
 Maninkey, kakulu 
 
 Name, to name 
 
 Gama, tala gama, 
 like 
 
 Nervous, strong 
 
 Manschla 
 
 New cheese 
 
 Amas, amahazi 
 
 Next day 
 
 goumsso 
 
 Nickname 
 
 Gama 
 
 Night darkness 
 
 Bosuko 
 
 None, not one 
 
 Abe rauneey 
 
 Nothing 
 
 Om -betjanna 
 
 Nostril, nose 
 
 Om-pomolo 
 
 Now 
 
 Kalago 
 
 Number 
 
 Ubalo 
 
 Of 
 
 Ka 
 
 Officer 
 
 Madada om-kulu 
 
142 
 
 Obtain, find. 
 
 
 Recital, account 
 
 Koluma * 
 
 gather 
 
 Tola 
 
 Recommence, 
 
 Innza futy 
 
 Occupation, 
 
 occupy one-self Sabensa 
 
 begin anew 
 Red 
 
 Bonvo 
 
 Oil 
 
 Mafuta ka mounty 
 
 Reed, bulrush 
 
 Om-schlanga 
 
 Old 
 
 Om-dala 
 
 Refuse, to refuse 
 
 Knaba 
 
 On this side 
 
 Zanze 
 
 Regain, rejoin 
 
 Figa futy 
 
 On that side 
 
 Apetchea 
 
 Receive 
 
 Neka futy 
 
 One, (the) the 
 
 Omuneey, 
 
 Regard, look 
 
 Amenschlo 
 
 other 
 
 omuneey futy 
 
 Relate, tell 
 
 Tala futy 
 
 Only, alone 
 
 Eneey 
 
 Remake, 
 
 
 Operate 
 
 Sabensa 
 
 recommence 
 
 Innza futy 
 
 Ostrich 
 
 Ikoey 
 
 Remount 
 
 Amba futy pazulu 
 
 Otter 
 
 Om-vuty 
 
 Repeat 
 
 Tela futy 
 
 Our 
 
 Ka-tana 
 
 Repolish 
 
 Schlannza futy 
 
 Own, avow 
 
 Vouma 
 
 Resow, stitch 
 
 Sabensa py tambo 
 
 Packthread 
 
 Tambo 
 
 Retain, hold 
 
 Bamba 
 
 Pail, bucket 
 
 Pongolo 
 
 Rhinoceros 
 
 Om-betjanna 
 
 Panther 
 
 Inngua, silo, yssyo 
 
 Rice 
 
 Mabaley 
 
 Papa 
 
 Baba 
 
 
 om-schlopu 
 
 Paring, copulation Schlabonka 
 
 Rich, great 
 
 Om-kulu 
 
 Part, to 
 
 Amba 
 
 Ride 
 
 Amba na hache 
 
 Pay to 
 
 Nika betaye 
 
 River 
 
 Om-phelena, 
 
 Peaceably 
 
 Kaschleg 
 
 
 om-philos 
 
 Peasant, (Dutch) 
 
 Bounn 
 
 Robe 
 
 Om-gobo 
 
 Perish 
 
 Pelela 
 
 Rock 
 
 Hitheey 
 
 Pheasant 
 
 Ekoalakoala 
 
 Rod of wood 
 
 Tonga 
 
 People, all 
 
 Abantu zonki 
 
 Route, road 
 
 Insjchley 
 
 Pig, hog 
 
 Inglobu 
 
 Sale, sell 
 
 Tinga 
 
 Pipe 
 
 Innahoey 
 
 Sand 
 
 Om-schlabatse, 
 
 Plant, a 
 
 Ebaya, or 
 
 
 om-schlabanty 
 
 
 etnbanaly 
 
 Screech-owl 
 
 Ezekova 
 
 Plate 
 
 Ezethea 
 
 See again, see 
 
 Bona futy, bona 
 
 Poison, drug 
 
 Bulala pe muty 
 
 Seek 
 
 Founa 
 
 Polecat 
 
 Itkaguety 
 
 Serpent, snake 
 
 Eneuka 
 
 Porcupine 
 
 Ischlozy 
 
 Shadow 
 
 Muneama 
 
 Potatoes, sweet 
 
 Om-schlazy 
 
 Sheep 
 
 Scap 
 
 Pound, bruize 
 
 Tubula 
 
 Shield 
 
 Om-schlanga 
 
 Power 
 
 Hyazv 
 
 Shoot 
 
 Singuala 
 
 Praise 
 
 Bonganini 
 
 Short, low 
 
 Inkinany-pannzy 
 
 Predicament 
 
 Om-phondis 
 
 Shot, (bird) 
 
 Om-schlohahy 
 
 Pretty, amiable 
 
 Mouschley 
 
 Show, exhibit 
 
 Latey bona 
 
 Prince 
 
 Inkosseny 
 
 Shower 
 
 Kam-kam 
 
 Princess 
 
 Inkoskazy 
 
 Silence, silent 
 
 Tula 
 
 Puff adder 
 
 Blulu 
 
 Sing 
 
 Gussena 
 
 Purchase 
 
 Tinga 
 
 Sing and dance 
 
 Sena 
 
 Part, place 
 
 Tola 
 
 Singing of birds 
 
 Goussena 
 
 Rags 
 
 Om-duango 
 
 Skin, hide 
 
 Ikomba 
 
 Rain 
 
 Kam-kam 
 
 Sleep 
 
 Lala 
 
 Rapid 
 
 Kotjima 
 
 Slender, small 
 
 Inkinany 
 
 Rare, uncommon 
 
 Inkuzana 
 
 Snow 
 
 Ungquoqwane 
 
 Rat 
 
 Om puko 
 
 Soil, ground-plot 
 
 Om-schlaba 
 
 Recharge 
 
 Inza suty futy 
 
 Solid 
 
 Maanschla 
 
Solitary 
 
 Eneey 
 
 Tranquil, quiet 
 
 Kashleg 
 
 Some one 
 
 Omuneey montu 
 
 Travel 
 
 Amba insjaney-ny 
 
 Sorcerer, fortune 
 
 
 .--Tree 
 
 Mounty 
 
 teller 
 
 Om-tagaty 
 
 Truck, barter. 
 
 
 Spear, assegai 
 
 Om-kondo 
 
 exchange 
 
 Tinga 
 
 ^Speech, harangue Koluma 
 
 Trunk of an 
 
 
 Speak ill of one 
 
 Tala imbu ka 
 
 Elephant 
 
 Om-pomolo 
 
 
 montu 
 
 Turn, by-way 
 
 Eneuka 
 
 Spy 
 
 Om-tagaty 
 
 Turn, go to the 
 
 
 Stick 
 
 Tonga 
 
 other side 
 
 Amba apetichiyla 
 
 Stop, stay, forbear Schlala 
 
 Ugly 
 
 Mombu, imbu 
 
 Strike, beat, fight Techeahea 
 
 Under, beneath 
 
 Zannzy 
 
 Strong 
 
 Maanschla 
 
 Underground 
 
 Nogoty 
 
 Strong in the arm,Maanschla ka 
 
 Upon, above 
 
 Pezu 
 
 warlike 
 
 guassa 
 
 Unyoke 
 
 Latey ezinkabu 
 
 Strong man 
 
 Inkinany montu 
 
 
 puma 
 
 
 maanschla 
 
 Usage 
 
 Hinndaho 
 
 Sugarcane q,' 
 
 Himpheya . t 
 
 Valid, legal 
 
 Mannschla 
 
 Sun 
 
 Langa 
 
 Valiant man 
 
 Om-doda 
 
 Sunday 
 
 Sondagh 
 
 
 mannschla 
 
 Sunburnt, tanned 
 
 Ikomba sabenseley 
 
 Vapours 
 
 Nenkwezane 
 
 Surprise, overreachKotlissa, kotlissey 
 
 Vast 
 
 Om-kulu 
 
 Sweep, clean 
 
 Schlannza 
 
 Veal 
 
 Inkoneana 
 
 Sweet potatoes 
 
 Om - schlazi 
 
 Vehicle 
 
 Knueyley 
 
 Take 
 
 Faga 
 
 Vigorous 
 
 Mannschla 
 
 Take, sieze 
 
 Bamba 
 
 Volume 
 
 Inxenye 
 
 Take away, carry 
 
 Tola ka pannzy 
 
 Walk 
 
 Amba 
 
 Tallow fat, suet 
 
 Mafouta 
 
 Wand, rod 
 
 Tonga inkinany 
 
 Tell, say 
 
 Tela 
 
 War 
 
 Gouassa 
 
 Tempest, storm 
 
 Moea om kulu py 
 
 Warlike 
 
 Mannschla ka 
 
 
 kam-kam 
 
 
 gouassa 
 
 Thanks 
 
 Kashleg 
 
 War- dress 
 
 Symba 
 
 This, that, the 
 
 Lo 
 
 Warn, inform 
 
 Tela pambeley 
 
 Thicket, bush 
 
 Schlaty 
 
 Water 
 
 Amannzi 
 
 Thick of a fight 
 
 Duur makar 
 
 Water-bottle 
 
 Om-kopo 
 
 Thin 
 
 Ondehe 
 
 Wash 
 
 Schlannza 
 
 Tick, insect 
 
 Makagane 
 
 Way, track 
 
 Inschley 
 
 Thou, thyself 
 
 Ouena 
 
 Wealth, riches 
 
 Abantu maninkeey 
 
 Thunder 
 
 Zulu 
 
 Whale 
 
 Om-komo 
 
 Thy, your 
 
 Ouako 
 
 Wheedle, cajole 
 
 Kotlissa 
 
 Tie, bind, knot 
 
 Bopa 
 
 Wheel 
 
 Bonvo 
 
 Tithe, tenth 
 
 Kinngana, 
 
 Which, who, what Ou-bany 
 
 
 techumey 
 
 Whip 
 
 Suepp 
 
 Tobacco 
 
 Gouaya 
 
 White 
 
 Om-schlopu 
 
 To-morrow 
 
 Goumso 
 
 Wide, broad 
 
 Om-kulu 
 
 Tooth 
 
 Mazigneo 
 
 Wild celery 
 
 Om-schloaty 
 
 Top, above 
 
 Pazu 
 
 y y Celt 
 
 Symba 
 
 Top of a tree 
 
 Pazulu ka mouty 
 
 » dog 
 
 Manghetjanna 
 
 Total, all, whole 
 
 Zonkey 
 
 ,, boar of the 
 
 
 Touch 
 
 Faga 
 
 wood 
 
 Inglobu 
 
 Trace, track 
 
 Hinnhiaho 
 
 ,, boar of the 
 
 
 Traitor, tyrant, 
 
 
 plain 
 
 Uncklovadoane 
 
 murderer 
 
 Om-tagaty 
 
 „ duck 
 
 Madada 
 
 
 
 fi rr 
 
 >> 
 
 Amannzi 
 
144 
 
 Worm Om-peto 
 
 Wound, wounded Gouassa, 
 
 Wind 
 
 Winding of a road 
 
 Wine 
 
 Winter 
 
 Wish, to be willing 
 
 Within 
 
 Without 
 
 Woman, wife 
 
 Womb 
 
 Wood 
 
 Work 
 
 Moea 
 
 Eneuka 
 
 Manns chla 
 
 Alanga makaza 
 
 Tanta 
 
 Pagaty 
 
 Ka pansley 
 
 Am-phazy 
 
 Omschluno 
 
 Schlaty 
 
 Sabensa 
 
 gouasseley 
 Om-poffo 
 Om-poffana 
 Ezolo pambeley 
 Ouena 
 Ouako 
 Imphana 
 Intombu 
 
 NUMERALS. 
 
 One 
 
 Two 
 
 Three 
 
 Four 
 
 Five 
 
 Six 
 
 Seven 
 
 Eight 
 
 Nine 
 
 Ten 
 
 Eleven, ten and 
 one 
 
 Twelve 
 
 Thirteen 
 
 Fourteen 
 
 Fifteen 
 
 Sixteen 
 
 Seventeen 
 
 Eighteen 
 
 Nineteen 
 
 Twenty 
 
 Thirty 
 
 Forty 
 
 Sixty 
 
 Seventy 
 
 Eighty 
 
 Ninety 
 
 Muneey 
 
 Mabeley 
 
 Matatu 
 
 Muney eney 
 
 Ischlano 
 
 Istoupa 
 
 Etoka 
 
 Ekota muneey 
 Cheapmuneey, 
 menamuneey 
 Kinngana, 
 techumey 
 Muneey techumey 
 muneey muva 
 Mabeley techumey 
 Techumey matatu 
 mouva 
 
 Techumey muney 
 muva 
 
 Techumey ischlano 
 Techumey istupa 
 muva 
 
 Techumey ekota 
 muva 
 
 Techumey ekota 
 muneey 
 Techumey 
 cheapmuneey 
 Itchumey 
 izambili 
 
 Itchumey ezetatu 
 Itchemey muney 
 Itchumey istupa 
 Itchumey ekota 
 Itchumey 
 cobambele 
 Itchumey 
 cheamuniey 
 
 Yellow 
 
 Y ellowish 
 Yesterday 
 You 
 
 Y ours 
 
 Young man 
 ,, woman 
 
 . /~\ /%r\/\y\/\/\/v/\ /v/\yv/\ a . 
 
 One hundred 
 Four hundred 
 
 Kindle a fire 
 Cook the food 
 Bring the dishes 
 Take away the 
 dishes 
 
 Wash the dishes 
 Prepare the fowl 
 Prepare potatoes 
 
 Watch the fire 
 Watch the horse 
 Watch the cattle 
 Bring here 
 Take there 
 Hasten 
 Put down 
 Warm the water 
 Does the water 
 boil ? 
 
 Boil the meat 
 Come here 
 Go there 
 Chop wood 
 Wipe the table 
 Hold the horses 
 Bring water 
 Pour in 
 Dry the cloth 
 Eat your food 
 Let it alone 
 Open the door 
 Pour out 
 
 Kulu 
 
 Kulu muney 
 
 Basa umlilo 
 Poka ukuhla 
 Leta izitya 
 
 Sulsa izitya 
 Hlanza izitya 
 Lungisa inkuku 
 Lungisa 
 
 amazembane 
 Linda umlilo 
 Linda ihashi 
 Linda izinkomo 
 Leta lapa 
 Tabata lapo 
 Tyet.ya 
 Beka pansi 
 Fudemeza amanzi 
 Amanzi a ya bila 
 na ? 
 
 Bilisa inyama 
 Yiza lapa 
 Amba lapo 
 Banda izinkuni 
 Sula itebel 
 Bambela amahashi 
 Leta amanzi 
 Tela 
 
 Yomisa indwangu 
 Yihla ukula kwabo 
 Ku yeke 
 Vula amyango 
 Tulula, and palaza 
 
 ENGLISH AND ZULU 
 PHRASES. 
 
145 
 
 ADDENDA, SEPTEMBER, 1850. 
 
 During the last eighteen months, about 3,500 persons have proceeded to 
 Natal. The prevailing character of the colony is no longer Dutch, but Eng- 
 lish, and each year it will become more so. The displeasure and the emigration 
 of the Dutch is, however, deeply to be regretted. In losing them we have 
 lost a set of moral men and good colonists. Let us hope, while drawing a veil 
 over the past, that no ill treatment of either English or Dutch will again be 
 inflicted, lest worse consequences follow. 
 
 The system of Emigration endeavoured to be monopolized by Messrs. J. 
 Byrne & Co., although they obtained privileges not awarded to other people, 
 has induced the above large amount of emigration ; but the twenty acres 
 system, more particularly for single men, has unhappily failed. No preparation 
 was made by Messrs. Byrne, — no surveys, — nor were the means adequate, or 
 the arrangements suitable. The Natal Government, however, has assisted the 
 emigrants so far as to give them twenty-five acres more. Had this been granted 
 to all, previous to the emigrants leaving, and due care first taken to have the 
 land surveyed, and native huts built for them, Messrs. Byrne would not have 
 failed in the undertaking, and the result would have been far different. The 
 system has failed because there has not been sufficient liberality on the part of 
 government, and for want of the needful foresight and preparation alluded to. 
 Interested parties may oppose the system, but, though possessed of land, I 
 should rejoice in seeing all the government land occupied before my own. 
 There is abundance of good government land yet undisposed of, and all that is 
 required is a good administration of it, and a liberal plan of emigration, with- 
 out favor or affection. Fair competition will then induce landholders to locate 
 emigrants on good land, and to give them satisfaction, without the tax upon a 
 man’s resources in this country. Suitable preparations and arrangements 
 for receiving and locating emigrants should be made at Natal, but any inter- 
 ference respecting land, on the part of the government, should be avoided. 
 If the American Government were to impose a deposit of £11,000 or £5,000 
 on all persons taking out emigrants, and were to promise thirtv acres for each 
 emigrant, being landed and well pleased, and were the dissatisfaction of the 
 emigrants then to endanger the return of the deposit, emigration to America in 
 such case would dwindle to nothing. America offers many advantages, and 
 therefore it is that emigration being untrammelled, flows thither in a perpetual 
 and increasing stream. England thereby loses her population, her colonies re- 
 main scantily occupied, while boundless cotton fields and valuable land are 
 tenaciously withheld from Englishmen in Natal. Land sales are not legitimate 
 sources of revenue. The crown lands of England, though it would be proper to 
 sell them and pay off so much of the national debt, are not held for the purpose 
 of making up the revenue. If England had no debt, all the crown lands should 
 be given away, or leased in small lots redeemable by the tenant after improve- 
 ment. “ Contentment of the people ” should be the maxim of the statesman. 
 If so here, how much more so is it called for in the colonies ! And as Natal is 
 free from debt, and as England’s means of keeping the colony must either de- 
 pend on an expensive establishment of troops, or a dense British population, 
 to balance the unruly elements existing around, it would appear that doubt 
 ought not to exist as regards the proper means of supporting British influence 
 in that quarter. The adverse parties are in the ascendant as regards numbers, 
 and their known prolific mood will make the discrepancy greater every year. 
 It is not unknown that Earl Grey is deeply interested in this colony : He has 
 known it in swaddling clothes ; it is in his power also to establish it on a 
 firmer basis than the Cape. During Earl Grey’s time the most important step 
 has been taken to incorporate the colored inhabitants of Natal with the 
 European population. It is a most happy circumstance for them ; they are 
 
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 taxed ; they must now be protected and governed. In the Cape Colony, the 
 colored population are called “ Native foreigners they are not taxed. Natal, 
 a colony of yesterday', has taught her elder sister a step in the right direction. 
 Without this measure, these classes never would be made either industrious or 
 honest. 
 
 This most important measure has been cordially welcomed by the colored 
 people ; and the total amount received from them, from the public accounts 
 of the revenue, I suppose to be upwards of £10,000. This is a considerable 
 amount, and which will greatly increase, unless the measure should induce 
 them to build larger and better houses, or induce them to give up poligamy, 
 and thereby accomplish a still higher object, their moral and social improve- 
 ment. Each wife now has her separate hut, so that the tax is a discourage- 
 ment to polygamy. Unfortunately, too, these women, bought from one another 
 for so many cows, (dependant of course on the beauty of the women and the 
 beauty of the cows,) are kept by them in a state of slavery. Without being 
 cruel to them, they yet oblige them to do all the work. The ease perhaps 
 with which the tax has been paid, is because the women earn it; and another 
 cause may be stated, namely, that if the receipt for the tax is not forthcoming, 
 they have no redress in the Courts to which they may carry any complaint. 
 This is native law, and one well worthy of adoption. 
 
 The gross Revenue of Natal for the last four years has been as follows : — 
 
 1846 £5,561 5 11^ 1848 11,925 0 5f 
 
 1847 8,476 13 2| 1849 18,968 11 6 
 
 Nothing could be more satisfactory and creditable to all concerned. A 
 
 balance was in the treasury in December, 1849, of £1,469. 9. 5f-. In October, 
 1848, the Natal Government was not only in debt to the Cape Town Govern- 
 ment, but, as I have reason to know, even to its own officers. The onward 
 progress of Natal is thus very conspicuous, and next year all the emigrants of 
 last year become contributors through the duties of customs, &c., (which alone 
 bring in about 10s. a head,) so that the increase of revenue may almost be cal- 
 culated to a point. 
 
 The past year has seen the establishment of two new villages, namely, 
 Verulam, five miles north of D’Urban, on the river Umlaghi, mostly composed 
 of emigrants from St. Alban’s; and “ Compensation,” the enterprising estab- 
 lishment of Messrs. Morewood. This rising village is situate on the Umhloti 
 river, on the high road to the Zulu country. Cultivation has been carried 
 higher here than in any other part of the colony. Sugar has a fair trial, fifty 
 acres having this year been planted. Certainly land more suited for this 
 important article could not be found. Let Natal but prosecute the growth of 
 this article, cotton, coffee, and indigo, and its wealth and salubrity will acquire 
 for it all the capital and all the labour that can be desired. 
 
 The Port has been considerably improved, and, with improved resources, the 
 harbor of -Natal will be made not only the best in South Africa, but one of the 
 safest in the world, and may be rendered of sufficient capacity to contain 1000 
 vessels. Steam will shortly apply its power in direct regular communication 
 with the Cape Colony : a branch line will doubtless be established to Natal 
 and Algoa Bay ; and we shall probably shortly see steam tugs stationary at 
 Natal itself. The colony then will want no more. 
 
 I return shortly to the colony, where the settlement of emigrants, the 
 purchase of land and general commission business will be duly attended to, the 
 firm in Pietermaritzburg and D’Urban being J. S. Christopher & Co. Agent 
 in London, — J. J. Morewood, Esq., Winchester-buildings, Great Winchester- 
 street, London. 
 
 The price of good land varies from Is. to 10s. per acre; but the govern- 
 ment upset price is 4s. per acre.