NATAL BAY. 45 



It is difficult for any pen to give an adequate idea of the 

 beautiful view, and almost impossible for one as unskilled 

 as mine, to convey to the imagination of the reader even a 

 slight impression of the glorious reality that was pre- 

 sented by the bay and surrounding country of Natal. 

 It broke suddenly upon the wearied eye after three weeks' 

 perpetual contemplation of leaden-coloured water had 

 tired the vision and caused a thirst for the green and 

 earthy. 



On our left, as we entered, rose the bluff, densely 

 wooded to the water's edge, the branches of the trees, 

 with their rich foliage, almost brushing the vessel's yards. 

 Two hundred and fifty feet of this nearly perpendicular 

 vegetable-clad wall formed our foreground, while the 

 middle distance was represented by the calm and brilliant 

 waters of the bay, with two or three thickly-wooded 

 islands. Numbers of wild fowls floated about, and among 

 these the delicate colours of the flamingo and the gro- 

 tesque forms of the pelican were conspicuous, the white 

 plumage of some cranes standing out like stars in the 

 blue waters. In the distance were seen the densely 

 wooded hills of the Berea and the white chimneys of a few 

 of the plastered houses of D' Urban village; while little 

 wreaths of light smoke coming through the trees gave 

 indication that the culinary processes of a habitation were 

 being carried on. 



The waters of the bay extend nearly six miles inland, 

 and at the extreme end, the refraction from heat, &c., 

 caused some of the mangrove-trees that lined the banks 

 to be magnified or inverted, while others appeared to be 



