Natal, a British colony, and noted seat of an Angli- can bishopric, is situated on the south-east coast of Af- rica, about 800 miles east-north-east of the Cape of Good Hope, between the 29th and 31st parallels of south lati- tude. Its north-eastern boundary is the Tugela, or Buffa- lo River, which divides it from Zululand, and its south- western boundary is the Umzimculu, separating it from Kaifraria proper. A lofty and rugged range of moun- tains, called the Quathlamba, or Urakcnberg, divides it from the Free State and Basutuland, and it contains a well-defined area of about 16,145 square miles, accord- ing to the British parliamentary accounts of 1872, with a population of 250,352, of whom 17,821 are whites, and 5227 Indian coolies, the remainder being natives of the soil, called Zidus, or Zulu-Kaffirs (see Kaffirs), rem- nants of the different tribes which originally occupied the territory, but by persecution and warfare were dis- persed, and only came together again since the British occupation of Natal.
Hislory. — The region now forming the colony of Natal derives its name {Xutalis Jesu) from its being discovered by the Portuguese on Christmas-day, 1497. It was visited and favorably reported upon towards the close of the 17th century, and later by Dampier, Woods Rogers, and several Dutch navigators. Subsequently a Dutch expedition purchased the territorj' from some native chiefs. Its colonization was not fairly projected, however, until about 1822, when it was visited by sev- eral white traders from the Cape, who found the coun- try in possession of the Zulu chief Chaka, who ruled in a most sanguinary manner over all the tribes, from the Umzimculu to the St. Lucia River. He was killed and succeeded by his brother Dingaan in 1838; but the latter having treacherously murdered a party of emi- grant Dutch Boers, who had paid him a friendlj' visit by invitation to buy land, he was attacked and finally destroyed by the Boers, who at that time had emigrat- ed from Cape Colony in large numbers, and who made his brother Panda paramount chief in liis stead, and then settled themselves down in the country as his lords and masters. The British government, however, now interfered ; and after a severe struggle on the part of the Boers, the country was formally proclaimed a British colony on May 12, 1843, since which time it has progressed very satisfactorily, and bids fair to be- come one of the most valuable dependencies of the British crown on the African continent. Natal is gov- erned by a lieutenant-governor, nominally subordinate to, although really independent of, the governor of the Cape, and has recently received a constitution some- what similar to that of Cape Colony. Municipal insti- tutions have been granted to the principal towns.
Climate, etc. — The coast region, extending about twen- tv-five miles inland, is highlv fertile, and has a climate ahiiost tropical, thou-h perfJctly healthy. Su-ar. cof-
>\ ual fiom tht •sea.
NATAL
854
NATAL DAYS
fee, indigo, arrow-root, ginger, tobacco, and cotton thrive amazingly, and the pine-apple ripens in the open air with very little cultivation. The midland terrace is more fit for the cereals and usual European crops, while on the higher plateau, along the foot of the mountains, are im- mense tracts of the tinest pasturage for cattle and sheep. Coal, copi>er, iron, and other minerals are found in several places; and there is no doubt when the great mountain -range is properly explored that it will be found very rich in mineral wealth. Since the discovery of diamonds near the Vaal Kiver, large and valuable gems of this class have been exported through Natal. The climate is very salubrious; the thermometer ranges between 90^ and 38^, but the heat, even in summer, is seldom oppressive. The mean temperature at Pieter- maritzburg, the capital, is S.o-* above that of Cape Town. The winter begins in April and ends in September; the average number of rainy days being thirteen. In the summer season the thunder-storms are very frequent and severe. The annual rainfall on the coast is about thirty-two inches. Inland, it varies a good deal in dif- ferent districts, and is greatest in summer. The south- east is the prevailing wind here in the summer months, as in Cape CdIduv. Occasionally the sirocco from the north-west is felt, which generally terminates iu a thun- der-storm.
The natives of Natal, belonging to the same ethno- logical family as the Kaffirs, are split up into numerous petty tribes, each tribe having a chief of its own, who, however, is amenable to British authority. Constant jealousies and animosities exist among these tribes, and nothing but fear of the British government prevents them from destroying each other. The greater part of the natives in this colony dwell on locations assigned them by government, and over each location is placed a white magistrate, to keep order, to collect the annual tax, which is seven shillings per hut, settle their nu- merous disputes, etc. When cases presented bj' the natives are not satisfactorih' settled by the magistrates, they have the privilege of appealing to the lieutenant- governor of the colony. These Zulus of Natal are a pastoral people, and disinclined to agricultural pursuits, yet under the influence of the British they have exten- sively engaged in them, and are fast developing the
A Zulu Group.
resources of the country. They are trusted by the Europeans, and even favored, except by the Boers.