CHAPTER VII. 



NATAL. 



OF all the South African Colonies, Natal is the 

 most essentially English, and as a residence for 

 people with small independent means in search of 

 a beautiful climate, fine scenery, and quiet but 

 cheerful surroundings it would be hard to beat in 

 any part of the world. A certain buoyancy of 

 life seems to prevail in Natal strangely in contrast 

 with the austere, puritanical surroundings which 

 are so depressingly conspicuous in most parts of 

 the old Colony; in fact, a good laugh and a 

 cheering glass may be enjoyed in Natal without 

 reproach, and the local Mrs. Grundy, albeit quite 

 as estimable, is less positively conspicuous and 

 oppressive than amidst other social coteries of 

 South Africa. Young people flit about here in the 

 fairly good spirits which it would be nearly 

 criminal to exhibit in the west part of the Cape 



