t Union, as fixed in 1898, was higher and to some extent
protective. Even between the citizens of English and those of Dutch
origin, the latter less than one-fourth of the whole, and living chiefly
in the country, there has been but little antagonism, for the Dutch,
being less numerous than in Cape Colony, are much less organized. Among
the English, British sentiment is strong, for the war of 1881 with the
Transvaal people not merely re-awakened the memories of the Boer siege
of Durban in 1842, but provoked an anti-Boer feeling, which was kept in
check only by the necessity of conciliating the Transvaal government in
order to secure as large as possible a share of the import trade into
that country. As the Natal line of railway is a competitor for this
trade with the Cape lines, as well as with the line from Delagoa Bay,
there is a keen feeling of rivalry toward Cape Colony, which is thought
to have been unfriendly in annexing the native territories of Griqualand
East and Pondoland, which lie to the west of Natal, and which the latter
Colony had hoped some day or other to absorb. When her hopes of
territorial extension were closed on that side, Natal began to cast
longing eyes on Zululand, a hilly region of rich pastures which is at
present directly administered by the Imperial Government, and which
contains not only some gold-reefs of still unascertained value, but also
good beds of coal. Ultimately in 1897, the home government consented to
allow Natal to absorb both Zululand and the Tonga country all the way
north to the Portuguese frontier.

The political life of Natal flows in a tranquil current, because the
population is not merely small, but also scattered over a relatively
wide area, with only two centres of population that rise above the rank
of villages. The people, moreover, lead an easy and quiet life. They are
fairly well off, occupying large cattle-farms, and with no great
inducement to bring a great deal of land under tillage, because the
demand for agricultural produce is still comparatively small. Not much
over one-fortieth part of the surface is cultivated, of which about two
hundred thousand acres are cultivated by Europeans, of course by the
hands of coloured labourers. Sugar is raised along the coast, and tea
has lately begun to be grown. The Natalians have, perhaps, become the
less energetic in developing the natural resources of their country
because thrice in their recent history the equable course