Yol. 51.] MR. D. DRAPER ON THE MAEBLE BEDS OF NATAL. 51 



6. The Makble Bees of Natal. By David Draper, Esq., F.G.S. 

 (Bead December 5th, 1894.) 



I. Introduction. — Early explorers in Natal mention the occurrence 

 of marble along the lower course of the Umzimkulu river. Mr. C. 

 L. Griesbach (Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xxvii. 1871, p. 56) 

 described the position of this " crystalline limestone of enormous 

 thickness," but could not determine its relation to the neigh- 

 bouring rocks. During his visit to the colony, that portion in 

 which the marble is situated was entirely occupied by natives, and 

 covered by dense bush ; consequently exploration was difficult. 

 Since then roads have been cut through the country, and numerous 

 farmsteads have been built by the whites on the more fertile tracts 

 of land. 



The settlers along the banks of the Umzimkulu have endeavoured 

 to establish an industry in connexion with this marble, several lime- 

 kilns and a small cement-factory having been erected ; and small 

 shipments of the marble are occasionally sent to Durban, for building 

 or statuary purposes. Still more systematic attempts might be made 

 to develop this valuable marble, the only one known to exist in 

 South Africa. 



II. Situation. — The area occupied by the marble is in the 

 county of Alfred, the southernmost county of the colony of Natal. 

 The Umzimkulu river, rising in the Drakensberg and flowing east- 

 ward, enters the Indian Ocean about 30 miles north of the southern 

 boundary of Natal ; about 7 miles from its mouth it is joined by 

 the Umzimkuluana river. The marble area occurs in the two river- 

 valleys, and is about 16 square miles in extent. 



III. Physical Features of the Country, — Along the coast-line, and 

 extending about 6 miles inland, the country consists of small, rounded 

 hills, reaching to a height of about 700 feet above sea-level ; but 

 farther inland flat-topped hills take their place. Numerous rivers 

 having cut their way through the hills to the sea, deep valleys have 

 been eroded by them. 



The deepest and most precipitous are those of the Umzimkulu 

 and the Umzimkuluana rivers, which are from 700 to 1200 feet 

 deep, and bordered by crags and precipices, in some instances the 

 full depth of the valley. The courses of both these rivers are over 

 successive cataracts and falls to within 7 miles of the Indian Ocean ; 

 and from there the united stream, thenceforward called the 

 ' Umzimkulu,' is navigable by small craft. 



Westward of the junction of the two rivers is a deep, roughly 

 circular valley, about 36 square miles in extent, surrounded by 

 crags, and intersected by the rivers above mentioned. In the fork 

 between the rivers a ridge or small range of hills is situated, 

 connected with the table-land to the west. The valley is extremely 



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