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 156 NATAL at the base of the Drakenberg, and presents many varieties of climate, soil, and scenery. Along the Indian ocean is a belt of undulating or hilly land about 25 m. broad, producing sugar, coffee, cotton, tobacco, and many other tropical plants, together with the mulberry, olive, vine, oats, beans, potatoes, and Indian corn, and di- versified with occasional tracts of forest. Suc- ceeding this belt is a higher tract displaying the productions of a temperate climate; still further inland is a fine grazing district, and back of this a succession of hills extending to the foot of the Drakenberg division of the Quatlamba mountains, which rises abruptly like a wall to a height of 8,000 ft. above the sea, and nearly 4,000 ft. above the country at its base, and over which there are but two practicable passes. Several offshoots of this range approach the coast. The climate is ex- ceedingly pleasant and healthful. In the neigh- borhood of the coast the weather is warm, the average temperature being about 74 in sum- mer and 63 in winter ; but in the elevated districts it is much cooler. The rainy season continues from March to the end of Septem- ber, during which violent thunder storms are frequent. The grazing country produces abun- dant crops of wheat, oats, and other cereals of the temperate regions, and excellent apples, pears, walnuts, peaches, apricots, and necta- rines. From the coast upward the whole is well watered by numerous streams and several considerable rivers, none of which are navi- gable. All the rivers are low in the dry season, but become full in a few hours in rainy weath- er, and rush down like torrents. Along the coast the soil is sandy, with masses of volcanic rocks and sandstone interspersed. The high lands are composed of stratified sandstone, with a vein of granite running in a N. E. di- rection ; and the soil is mostly a friable loam. The coast line, extending from high-water mark 5 or 10 m. inland, has proved to be well adapted to the cultivation of cotton, which has been raised in the colony since 1866, and now forms an important article of export. But little definite scientific knowledge yet exists as to the mineral resources of Natal. Coal de- posits of good quality are said to exist in the Tugela valley ; iron ore occurs in many places ; copper has been discovered ; beds of limestone are known to exist; and small quantities of gold have been obtained in the vicinity of D'Urban. The number of the larger wild ani- mals in the colony is diminishing. The ele- phant is met with in the remote forest dis- tricts, and the hippopotamus frequents some of the eastern rivers. The fauna also includes the leopard, hyaena, buffalo, eland, several other varieties of antelope, the crocodile, and a num- ber of snakes, some of which are venomous. The native Zooloo population, belonging to the same ethnological family as the Caffres, are a pastoral people and disinclined to agri- cultural pursuits, in which however, under European influence, they have extensively en- gaged. They are remarkable for their honesty and peaceable disposition. In 1871 the total number of acres under crops and grass was 175,355, of which 106,300 were devoted to the growth of maize. Of sugar, which is one of the principal products, 7,661 tons, valued at 159,430, were exported in the crop season of 1870-'7l, as against 857 tons, valued at 21,286, in that of 1860-'61. In 1870 there were 1,014,210 Ibs. of coffee raised, while the product for 1869 amounted only to 4,058 Ibs. Sheep are raised in large numbers, and the value of the wool exported exceeds tht,t of any other article, amounting to 140,597 for 4,814,710 Ibs. in the first nine months of 1871. The total value of the exports in 1870 was 382,979, comprising the following principal articles in the order of value: wool, raw sugar, hides, ivory, butter, ostrich feathers, arrowroot, cured meat, raw cotton, and grain. The imports for the same year were valued at 429,527, and included cotton, woollen, and leather manufactures, ironmongery, flour and meal, coffee, rice, and linen. Since the dis- covery of diamonds near the Vaal river, large numbers of these gems have been exported through Natal; but it has proved difficult to ascertain the aggregate value, as many of them are carried away without any declaration to the authorities. In 1870 the value of the dia- monds exported through the D'Urban custom house was 9,615; in the first 10 months of 1871 it was 32,056. Exclusive of coasters, the tonnage of vessels entered at the ports of Natal in 1870 was 23,881, and of those cleared 24.005. In 1870 there were 79 schools sus- tained wholly or partially by the government, with an average attendance of 1,797 pupils. Of these, 4 were classed as government schools, including high schools at Pietermaritzburg and D'Urban, 65 as aided schools, and 10 as itinerant schools. The school system is under the control of a superintendent of education. Excellent schools are also maintained by mis- sionaries in various parts of the country, prom- inent among which are the American mission schools in the coast range, and those of the church of England and of the Wesleyan church. At Pietermaritzburg there is a cen- tral training school belonging to the Free church of Scotland. The colony was made a diocese of the Anglican church in 1853, and is also the seat of a Roman Catholic bishop. The American mission is composed chiefly of Presbyterian and Congregational ministers ; in 1870 it maintained 19 stations and out stations, with 12 churches, having about 500 native members. In the government of Natal, the crown retains the right to veto colonial legis- lation, and the public officers remain under the control of the home government. The execu- tive authority is vested in a lieutenant gov- ernor, who is assisted by an executive council of 8 and a legislative council of 16 members. The colonial secretary, the treasurer, the at- torney general, and the secretary for native