NATAL.
"In all the world there is not a fairer country than the pleasant land
of Natal, stretching in steps from the Drachenberg, which bounds it like
a mighty wall, downward to the shore of the Indian Ocean. The coast belt
is covered with subtropical vegetation, for it is heated by the warm
Mozambique current, which runs southward along it, and gives it a higher
temperature than is due to its distance from the equator.
"Each terrace, as the traveler ascends, is cooler than the one below,
though it is nowhere cold. It is a well-watered land. Numerous streams,
issuing from the Drachenberg and the fronts of the lower terraces, rush
along in deep gorges to the sea, and carry off the super-abundant
moisture, so that it is also well drained."
Its soil is rich, its forests produce excellent timber, and its grazing
valleys resemble meadows. Its climate everywhere is healthy for
Europeans.
Compared with Cape Colony, Natal is of slight importance. It is much
smaller in size, having an area only about one half that of Scotland.
One writer has described the country as spurs of wooded mountain and
picturesque hills, which slope down like the fingers of a hand from the
higher cliff-like edge of the Drachenberg, some eleven hundred feet
high.
Fertile valleys, watered by steadily flowing rivers, lie between these
mountain fingers of the land; while between the coast and the mountains
lie tracts of level grass-covered land, or fertile undulating sections,
on which are pastured great herds of cattle, sheep, and goats.
The climate of Natal we may consider as semi-tropical. It has a
favorable position, hence the summer heat is not excessive. The winters
are unusually pleasant.
Probably no portion of South Africa is so well watered as Natal. As many
as twenty-three rivers flow through the country and enter the Indian
Ocean. Owing to the mountainous nature of the country, none of these
rivers are navigable.
In many places the scenery is very picturesque. Only a small portion of
the colony is as yet settled. There are sugar plantations scattered here
and there throughout the entire country, however; for they can be worked
to advantage by Indian coolies. These coolies have, upon trial, been
found more skillful and more steady laborers than the natives.
Coffee is grown in the low sections. Wheat, oats, and maize are raised
to quite an extent. The latter cereal is universally known by the name
"mealies" in South Africa.
The coast region extends inland for about fifteen miles. It is here that
the principal settlements are found. The capital of Natal, called
Maritzburg, has a situation about sixty miles inland from Port Natal.
Port Natal is the only harbor, and not a specially fine one; for a sand
bar across its mouth impedes navigation.
Quite a wagon traffic is carried on through the interior of the colony
down into the Orange Free State and also to the Transvaal, or South
African Republic. From these countries the products of Natal are
transported to Cape Colony. Considerable quantities of the products of
Central Africa and neighboring sections, such as wool, ostrich feathers,
and ivory, are sent out of the country through the Natal Port.
Natal seems to have a promising future. It was originally chosen by the
Dutch Boers, who, fleeing from British rule, sought a home where they
might establish their own laws. As far back as the middle of the present
century it was made a separate colony, though it had not the strong
government to be found at the Cape.
The fertile coast section is capable of producing the various tropical
crops in abundance. Here the pineapple ripens out of doors, and sugar,
coffee, arrowroot, indigo, tobacco, ginger, rice, pepper, and cotton are
grown to a large extent.
Farther within the interior, in the more elevated sections, the various
cereals and the ordinary crops of cooler climates thrive well. Upon the
hills and upland valleys is a luxuriant growth of herbage, which fits
them for grazing purposes. In some tracts near the coast and in the deep
glens of the Drachenberg Mountains fine forests of timber are found.
Coal exists in some sections, and limestone is very abundant.
The settlers have sometimes complained of the want of laborers. Although
there are but twenty-three Europeans in Natal to two hundred and ninety
Zulus and Kaffirs, yet the complaint is made that the white man must
depend upon coolie labor. This seems an exaggeration of facts, when we
consider that on every farm and in every sugar mill many natives may be
found at work, earning profitable wages. True, these native workmen are
not very prepossessing laborers; for a long time must elapse before a
savage can be trained into habits of industry and thrift.
Sometimes the natives are employed for domestic service, and they
generally do remarkably well. The "Cape Boys," or the colored
descendants of the St. Helena tribes that emigrated to the Cape, usually
drive the coaches; but the Zulus are employed to attend to the wagons,
and may be found making themselves generally useful throughout the
country.
Port Natal and Maritzburg are both small towns, yet they are the largest
to be found in Natal.
The Zulu war caused great expense to the colony, and the contract to
build three hundred and forty-five miles of railway has swelled the
public debt to an enormous sum.
War and national debt are a heavy burden for any country to bear. Yet
with peace comes prosperity, and thrift and enterprise will accomplish
great results in a country's progress. Hence some changes for the better
are now apparent.
Maritzburg and Durban have become very thrifty towns of late years.
Durban is said to be the only gateway of commerce, not only for the
colony itself and for Zululand, but for part of the Orange Free State
and the South African Republic.
In order to improve the entrance to the inner harbor extensive works
have been constructed, and large ships can now cross the bar and lie
beside a wharf as safely as in a dock.
Numerous handsome buildings embellish this town, conspicuous among which
is the grandest municipal hall in South Africa.
A railway has been constructed from Durban to Charlestown, on the border
of the South African Republic. It passes through Maritzburg and also
through the villages of Estcourt, Ladysmith, and Newcastle, farther
inland. From Ladysmith there is a branch-line by way of Van Reenen's
Pass in the Drachenberg to Harrismith in the Orange Free State. It goes
up the Drachenberg in a series of zigzag sections.
The government has in contemplation the completion of this railway from
Harrismith until it reaches the great Northeastern, which runs through
Cape Colony and the Orange Free State. This will give an unbroken line
of communication between Cape Town and Durban. It is very probable that
the Charlestown line will be continued to the gold fields of the South
African Republic at an early date.
The chief branch of the system of railways passes through an extensive
tract of coal of very good quality. This is a great advantage to the
country, for fuel can thus be obtained at a low rate.
This main branch is on the plateau which is at the foot of the
Drachenberg. It has a central situation and easily transports the coal
to the coast along a descending grade.
Not only do these railways and towns receive their coal from the
coal-bearing section, but great quantities are exported. In 1892 nearly
three hundred thousand dollars' worth was sent abroad.