The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-13 00:00:00

T

~....TERRITORY OF NATAL.
(From Graham's Town Journal.)
,Tll9 distance of Natal from Graham's Town is, by
Wel Something-more than 600 miles, as seventeen days'
ride averaging at least. 35 miles per diem, brought me
to the Dutch camp on the Umlasi, eight miles from the
port.
The intervening country varies greatly in quality and
feature, and may, on account of the distinctness of its
character, 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 arc 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 cepa-
bility any country I have yet seen in Southern Africa.
The verdant bills and prolific valleys, fertilised by
numerous inexhaustible streams, teeming with rich
vegetation of great variety, constitute it another Goshen,
and fully justify the rapturous exclamations and glowing
imagery employed in its description. A view of the
country from an eminence is enchantingly picturesque
and romantic, being agreeably broken and acclivous,
and richly studded with large patches of dense jun-
gle, just rendered pervious by the pioneers of civi-
lisation, and the depredations which have been made
upon the magnificent timber which there abounds.
Such is the country running parallel with the coast
for the distance of about thirty miles inland ; from
whence to the very base of the Quathlamba range it
assumes a more undulating and entirely open character.
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 distances from the sea ; but here it is rendered
peculiarly prolific by its tropical position and natural
structure. Near to the sea it is sandy, but the inte-
rior parts arc of red and fawn-coloured clay, especially
on the elevations. The soil of the valleys and about the
sources of rivers and fountains is of black mossy loam.
I'Vith the exception of the vine, every foreign plant
that has been taken there has thriven well ; and the
native fruits indicate a propensity in the soil to uncom-
mon luxuriance.
Son e of these fruits are of exquisite flavour, and will
doubtless be held in groat esteem, and introduced into
extensive use. One of these, the amathala, is very
siniihr in appearance to and about the size of a large
orange. Another, equally abundant and much more
agreeable and useful, is the natakulna. It is made into
a very pleasant and valuable preserve.
Sweet potatoes are raised here in almost unconsum-
mable quantities, but principally near the coast, the sandy
soil of which is well suited to their culture. The banana
is found in some parts, and the castor oil tree is common
here, and attains to a large size. From the seed of the
latter the natives, and, I believe, some of the emi-
grants, extract the oil, which has been pronounced very
good, and the Zulas use it as a substitute for fat, which,
of late years, has become very scarce among them.
Cane is also found here in great abundance, and grows
to the height of 15 or 20 feet. This, as well as the juice
of the cuphobia, which is everywhere found, in large
trees, may ultimately become articles of valuable export.
The above juice has been ascertained, by recent ex-
periments to be reduceable to a texture and elasticity
similar to that of Indian rubber, and may be found to
answer some of the purposes for which that material is
now in such great demand.
The woods of the country are many of them similar
to those found in other parts of South-East Africa ;
such as black and white stinkweed, red and white pear,
iron, sneeze, and assegai wood. There is also a kind
of ebony, beautiful as rosewood, and takes a fine polish.
The emigrants, as wel as the Zulas, call it tambutti.
In short, as to wood, here is a superabundance, both io
quality and quantity, for any purpose. I had almost
forgotten that inferior timber, the yellow wood, which
grows every where.
The climate of Natal is mild and temperate, being
attended generally with a brilliant atmosphere, and free
from those noxious vapours which rise from low swampy
and marshy localities. The structure of the country
points it out as one particularly favourable to health
and longevity ; and it is reported by those who have
now certainly bad a sufficient trial to enable them to
give an opinion, that it is free from most of the disor-
ders which so frequently visit some of the neighbour-
ing parts. As, however, civilisation advances, I
suppose, these will multiply, and, like the rust
in the wheat, which till 1820 was unknown, will be-
come a common plague. It is, however, certain that
the fatal atmosphere of Delagon is not felt here nor in
any of the adjacent parts yet visited While the win-
ters are mild, the summers are not injuriously hot, and
this equality of temperature renders it at once a very
agreeable and very fruitful country.
Though in its present luxuriant state the parts
near the coast are evidently not suited for sheep, yet
they are well adapted for the grazing of cattle ; as the
herds of the emigrants seem to be doing well.
The open, denuded country approaching the Quath-
lamba will be found moderately adapted for sheep-
walks, when a sufficient number shall have been intro-
duced to keep down the vigorous vegetation; and as a
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 years' expe-
rience has proved that at Natal it is not more fatal than
in any other part where it prevails. Numbers, it is true,
died of it, and in some parts not a horse was spared ;
but there are other parts where the influence of the epi-
demic was not felt. From this, it may be inferred, that
as regards this almost irremediable disease the Natal
country will not be worse, at least, than others.
Tee civil condition of the emigrants is much better
than from men in their circumstances might have been
looked for. They are settling down upon their farms
without any regard to, or fear from, the changes which,
by all we hear, must shortly take place. Their anxieties
are about their flocks and their lands, which latter they
are cultivating extensively, and as they have no want of
water, they will, doubtless, under a permanent Govern-
ment, obtain a good return. Their habitations are
mostly temporary, and their gardens, though well
stocked with vegetables of every kind, and fruit trees of
the second year, are not yet fenced and brought into
that state of security from quadruped depredations which
time only can effect.
The farmers and their families are decently dressed,
and though articles of clothing are at Natal enor-
mously expensive, they have not degenerated in
their costume. Nor are they inattentive to religion.
Some, it is well known, possessed more than a nominal
Christianity before they left the colony, and their dis-
astrous removal has not caused their zeal to abate.
They have built a large temporary church at the Urn-
lasi ,and a more permanent one at Bushman's Rand, where
the Rev. Mr. Lindley is now officiating, and there, at
least, the exterior of religion will be perpetuated. This,
however, is not all that may be said on this subject.
Many families that I visited continue to perform their
private devotions, and regard religion, not as a matter
of form merely, but of practice and enjoyment. On my
arrival they received me very cordially, and assembled
from all the circumjacent parts to attend :Divine wor-
ship at the Umlasi camp.
The natives, who are very numerously interspersed
in villages among the emigrants, are a perfectly free
people, and not the slaves we were some time ago led
to suppose them. The principles of freedom have been
proclaimed throughout the whole emigration, and those
orphans, who by war have fallen into their hands, are
regularly indentured to respectable men, who must pos-
sess some reasonable probability of being able to fulfil
the terms of the indenture.
The character of the Natal Administration is re-
publican. The management of affairs rests upon an
assembly—consisting of 25 members—chosen annually.
They meet quarterly, and a President is elected at
every sitting. The public servants are three Land-
drosts, one Commandant-General, ene Harbour Mas-
ter, and a few subordinates in office. The former re-
ceive salaries of 1001. each per annum.
There are a number of villages forming, but the
places of any present importance are Peterrnaritz-
berg, also called Bushman's Rand, and the
Port. The former place is at present famous
as the seat of Government, but it obviously
does not possess the suitability required for extensive
resort. or great commercial importance. The country
at Petermaritzberg, and about this spot, is flat, and on
account of the abundant supply of water—from Bush-
man's River—well suited to agricultural purposes, but
its denuded appearance not merely detracts from its
beauty, but actually stamps deformity upon its features,
whilst its entire lack of fuel, which is not to be found
within 15 or 20 miles of its site, must for ever prevent
it attaining superiority as a place of residence, or be-
coming of commercial importance.
The town consists of about eighty houses, none of
which, with the exception of four or five, are of a per-
manent character. Several small buildings are in pro-
gress, yet it does not require much penetration to per-
ceive that with so many decidedly superior in sites it
never can become the metropolis of the colony, or the
emporium of trade.
Port Natal—the town itself having received no
other name—possesses advantages which cannot be de-
scribed in too striking colours. Its 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 water than supplies
the whole of Cape Town—all point out the
great importance of the locality. Two of these
rivers run into the bay, and a third (the Umlasi)
within four miles of its margin. The stream of this river
is equal to that of the Fish River, and may be con-
ducted over a rich and fertile flat, leading to the pre-
sent town and bay. The Umgeni, which 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 cur-
rent commensurable to the utmost demands that can,
possibly be made upon it. In short, the whole,
whether viewed in quality or position, presents, as
it were, material of the most suitable quality, waiting
only to be transformed as art and fancy may deem
best, for constituting one of the most populous and
delightfully situated towns on the coast of Africa.

The population about the bay is already consider-
able, and ie daily receiving new accessions, by the re-
moval of several of the Dutch from the interior. The
eagerness of many to procure plots of ground for build-
ing upon is a sufficient guarantee for the early and
large extension of the town. J. ARCHBELL.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

CAMBRIDGE, DEC. 11. - The Vice-Chancellor has
given notice that there will be Monday, the 24th day of
January, 1842, at ten o'clock, an examination of candi-
dates for the scholarship upon the Pitt foundation, lately
holden by Mr. W. G. Humphry, of Trinity College. The
candidates are required to signify their intention of offer-
ing themselves on or before Friday, the 3lst of Decem-
ber, in a Latin epistle to be delivered personally, before
three o'clock in the afternoon of the said day, to the
several electors.
The Rev. G. Platt, M.A., of Trinity College, has
been pppointed to the vicarage of Sedbergh, Yorkshire
by the Master and Fellows of that society.
The Rev. John Benson Skipper, M.A., of Emmanuel
College, has been appointed to the perpetual curacy of
Ashchurch, Gloucestershire, vacant by the cession of the
Rev. Henry Pruen, of Oriel College, Oxford.
The Rev. John Geale Unwins, M.A., of St. John's
College, has been appointed to the perpetual curacy of
St. Matthew, at Ebley, in the parish of Stonehouse,
Gloucestershire, void by the cession of the Rev. H. W
B. Daubeney : patron, T. C. Croome, Esq., of Cainscrop.