Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/238

 182 SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA. numerical preponderance of the Zulu-Kafirs. But this decided disparity between the white and coloured elements has alarmed the great English landowners them- selves ; hence societies have been established for the purpose of introducing into the colony European artisans, workmen, and domestic servants, to whom a free passage is offered on the condition of their entering into engagements of greater or less duration. In the period between 1878 and 1884 the emigrant vessels landed as many as 4,526 of these invited guests, or a yearly average of 646 persons, who have certainly contributed gradually to develop a healthy middle class between the great landowners and the natives. The men being more nume- rous than the women, the latter have no difficulty in finding partners in life, so that there are no old maids in Natal as in England. The European population thus also regularly increases by the normal excess of births over deaths. Between the years 1880 and 1884 the increase from this source and direct immigration was at the rate of 2,472 a year, but since then assisted emigration has been stopped. The European population has increased by nearly 50 per cent, since 1859, and in 1888 numbered altogether considerably over forty thousand. To cultivate their extensive domains the English proprietors in Natal have had recourse chiefly to imported labour, Hindu coolies mainly from the Bengal and Madras presidencies. At first they tried to utilise the Kafir element, and in many places are still obliged to fall back occasionally on the aborigines. But there is little love lost on either side, and on the termination of their engagement, usually for one or two years, the Kafirs quit the farms and return to their respective tribes. At times they even contrive to get recalled by their chiefs before the stipulated term of service has expired The Kafir works in any case grudgingly for a master. He has, as a rule, his own hut, his own field of maize, and perhaps a few head of cattle ; hence when asked by Europeans to take service for a salary, he is apt indignantly to decline, and even to turn the tables by asking the white to accept employment under him. Thus the Natal planters are naturally driven to cast about for less independent hirelings. They have tried Hottentots and members of tribes more to the north ; but find the mild Hindu more suitable for th-eir purpose. The colonial Govern- ment advances the funds required to recruit these Asiatics, who are supplied to the various plantations according to the demand. The period of contract is usually for ten years, and in return for his daily labour of from eight to ten hours the coolie receives wages at the rate of about twelve shillings a month, besides his food, lodging, and an outfit. Those who complete the full term of their engage- ment can claim a free passage back to their homes, unless they prefer to offer their services according to the current prices in the labour market. Most of them remain in the colony and marrj- one of their fellow-countrj-women, for the importers of coolies are bound to introduce both sexes, in the proportion of forty women to a hundred men. Some become gardeners or owners of small holdings in the neighbourhood of the towns ; others turn to trade and open shops, usually in the haberdashery or provision Hues, and, thanks to their extreme frugality, have become formidable competitors with the European dealers, who loudly com-