Black Population of Natal. 189 



district, who were driven away from their hill-sides at the 

 time of the Zulu invasion, but who returned when the colony 

 came under the protection of European occupation and British 

 rule, and have since been largely reinforced by successive 

 additions of refugees from Zululand, who were themselves for 

 the most part, it will be remembered, originally drawn from 

 the same aboriginal source. These people are now all liege 

 subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, and already partake in 

 a large measure of the advantages of British rule. But they 

 are nevertheless still barbarians in the mass ; and here, there- 

 fore, arises the most momentous and deeply interesting question, 

 What is to be done with their black bodies and barbarous 

 minds ? what is to become of them in the future ? There can 

 be no doubt they will not remain where they are as barbarians. 

 Nature herself, and the immutable laws of human existence, 

 have decided that this cannot be ; civilization and barbarism 

 cannot continue to look into each other's eyes at close quarters. 

 Whenever they have been brought face to face by circum- 

 stances, one of two things has always taken place — either the 

 barbarians have disappeared from their place upon the earth, 

 or they have been drawn within the civilized pale, and turned 

 to account. Which of these fates is it, then, that is in store 

 for these black tribes of Natal ? Are they to find, under 

 the altered circumstances of their land, and after their escape 

 from the thraldom of a savage tyranny, extermination or a 

 new life ? 



In endeavouring to catch the first faint whisperings of the 

 answer to this question, the inquirer is met by a stubborn 

 fact, which undoubtedly has its meaning. Up to this time the 

 results of the meeting certainly has not been in the direction 

 of the extermination alternative. The 10,000 Natal Kaffirs of 

 1836, are 200,000 Natal Kaffirs in 1866 ! Under the asgis of 

 British protection, and in the face of European civilization, the 

 black race of Natal has increased twenty- fold in thirty years. 

 This certainly looks very much indeed as if there is no early 

 extermination to be thought of. It looks, indeed, as if the 

 other alternative is the thing that is in progress, and must 

 be brought about. 



Before entering further upon the consideration of what 

 indications there are that the civilization and utilization of the 

 Natal Kaffirs, are possible and in progress, it is absolutely 

 essential here to get some clear notion of what the uncivilized 

 Kaffir is, upon whom the civilizing operation has to be per- 

 formed. We must pause for a passing glance of scrutiny at 

 the raw material before we entangle ourselves too deeply in 

 the processes of the manufacture. 



The Kaffir who is found in Natal, is, upon the average, of 



