238 THE NATIVES OF XATAL IN KELATIOX TO THE LAND. 



areas. In the interests of the white man, as well as of the native 

 cattle owner, the location cattle had to be cleansed from the 

 disease-carrying ticks ; dipping tanks were erected throughout 

 these areas, regulations made and inspectors appointed. Aifter 

 some preliminary trouble the natives recognized the benefits of 

 dipping, and loyally obeyed the Government's instructions. At 

 the last meeting of the Farmers' Conference in Natal the prin- 

 cipal veterinary surgeon reported that out of Sy outbreaks of 

 East Coast fever, only 3 occurred in native locations ! I have 

 already said that in the locations the native people live as their 

 fathers did. This is true in large measure — the tribal system 

 ])ersists ; the Zulu hut and cattle kraal are still built and occupied 

 l)y the majority; the belief in and practice of witchcraft still 

 endures ; polygamy, lobola, and other native customs form part 

 of native law, and are endorsed by Government. But there are 

 changes. The plough is now universally used, the men under- 

 t;iking this work, the women all the subsequent operations, 

 including harvesting. But in proportion to the increased popula- 

 tion the ground does not yield an increase. No manure is used, 

 and as the virgin soil is exhausted, steeper, stonier and more 

 sterile fields are tilled, with scantier results. It is a remarkable 

 fact that though many of the men living in the locations work as 

 agriculturists for Europeans, and are fully acquainted with his 

 methods and see the benefit he derives from manuring and good 

 cultivation, they do not copy these improved methods at their 

 homes — their crops are as slovenly as those of their neighbours. 

 Many years ago thousands of bags df grain were bought by 

 Europeans from the locations where now there is not only not 

 a surplus but a deficiency in bad seasons. Many of the European 

 farmers living near the locations sell the whole of their crops at 

 high prices to the natives who occupy land not naturally much 

 inferior to that farmed by the white man. The crops grown by 

 the natives are those grown of old: maize, Kafifir com. beans and 

 amadumba (Calocacia ediilis). The more profitable crops grown 

 by Europeans, such as sugar-cane, wattles, potatoes and European 

 cereals are not grown by the native. In general terms it may 

 be said that no produce grown in the native locations finds its 

 way into the markets of the Colony, and no exportable produce is 

 grown by them. And the same applies to their flocks and herds. 

 No dairy produce is made, they do not keep wooUed sheep, and 

 their cattle and goats are exchanged among themselves for lubola 

 purposes. Of late years some little instruction in agriculture 

 has been given by a few of the missionaries living in the 

 location, but there has been no Government assist- 

 ance, nor any Government instruction. Taken as a whole, 

 I think it may be truthfully said that the economic- 

 agricuhural position of the natives on the locations of Natal is 

 worse than it was in the early days of the white man's occupation 

 •of the country. 



Notwith.standing the fact that such a considerable portion of 



