The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-08-20

messed. A few of the falls have al
ready been set to turning electric gen
orators and a portion of the railway
mileage is already electrified.
In the plateau country above the
D~rakensberg rampant Natal has valu-
able coal mines. The quality of this
fuel is better than that of any other
South African coal, and because of
this and the down-grade haul to Dur
ban great quantities of it are shipped,
some as far as India.
Customs of the Zulus
Zululand, contained within the Dor
ders of Natal, is a native reservation.
A native high court administers civil
justice and deals with all the political
crimes, and with crimes arising out of
native law and custom-ordinary
crimes falling under the ordinary Grim
inal law. Natives can acquire the
franchise under certain conditions.
1t has been broadly but enormously
asserted that the native girls are
bought and sold in marriage. When a
Zulu boy has found his affinity, or
rather one Of many of them, he de-
cIares himself to the girls father, and
is informed how much "lobola' is nee
essary to effect a legal marriage ar
rangement. 'Lobola'' consists in moth
ing more than a gift of a certain num-
Der of cattle, usually ten to twenty, as
a guarantee of good faith and evidence
that the prospective husband is able
to provide. The title to the cattle and
their offspring does not pass to the
father of the girl, although he receives
and holds possession Of them, but to
the children, for whose benefit the 10
bola" is held in trust.
Many strange customs and laws OBJ
tain in Zululand, but there is no moral
code in all the world more rigidly OBJ
served than that of the Zulus. Women
do practically all of the agricultural
work and provide for the family, while
the men, by tradition, are busily en-
gagged in war or hunting. The women
also brew the native beer. If it be-
comes necessary for any member of
the family to hire out as a domestic,
the lot usually falls to the man.
Polygarly is recognized and prac-
ticed by the Zulus. Each wife is ac-
corded the same consideration and
treatment. Jealousy, malice or hatred
is seldom seer in any character, and
no more %peaceable and lovable c.
exists.
East indians Numerous.
Natal has a population of about
10000 whites, about the same num-
Der of East Indians, and approximate
ly 1885, 900 negroes. The East Indians
are an important factor economically.
Throughout the entire colony the In
dian will be found in all the walks of
commercial and professional life, from
the ordinary laborer coaling ships to
the thoroughly educated and trained
barrister at law, fighting for the right
Of his countrymen.
Durham, the chief port of Natal.
looking off to the east over a warm.
sun-bathed ocean, is close to the CORE
spending latitude of Jacksonville, Fla,
Savannah and New Orleans. In recent
years II dcTOSS lis nay HdS
been pierced. giving the city a large,
weIl-protected harbor. 1t has a popu-
lation nearly twice that of Savannah.
In spots it has much Of the flavor OF
the East, with a Mohammedan mosque,
coolie-markets and Hindu shops. Along
the curving shores Of the harbor Is a
beautiful tree-lined ~esplanade. Inland
rise hills, called the Berea, on which
are the villas and garden-surrounded
bungalows Of the more prosperous resi-
dents.
The capital Of Natal. Pietermaritz-
burg, a town Of about 10000 inhahi-
tants, is situated in the uplands some
Atty miles inland from Durham. 1t
preserves much Of the old Dutch flavor
given by its founding Beers. It has
one Of the most equable climates in
South Africa and is a favorite health
resort. The town is surrounded by
mountains, and In easy reach Is some
| Of the finest scenery in Natal.