The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

1B2SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA.mimcrical prcponderaucc of the Zulu-KuKrs.But this decided disparity bctwceathe white aad coloured olomouts has aUinned the great ]"]uglish landowners themselves;houco sooiofcies have been established for the purpose of introducing intothe colony European artisans, workmen, and domestic servants, to whom a freepassage is offered on the condition of their entering into engagements of greateror less duration. In the period between 1878 and 1884 the emigrant vesselslauded as many as 4,526 of these invited guests, or a yearly average of 646persons, who have certainly contributed gradually to develop a healthy middleclass between the great landowners and the natives.The men being more numerousthan the women, the latter have no difficulty in finding partners in life, sothat there are no old maids in Natal as in England. The European populationthus also regularly increases by the normal excess of births over deaths.Betweenthe years 1880 and 1884 the increase from this source and direct immigration wasat the rate of 2,472 a year, but since then assisted emigration has been stopped.The Em-opeau population has increased by nearly 50 per cent, since 1859, and in1888 nTunbered altogether considerably over forty thousand.To cidtivate their extensive domains the English proprietors in Natal have hadrecourse chiefly to imported labour, Hindu coolies mainly from the Bengal andMadras presidencies. At first they tried to utilise the Kafir element, and in manyplaces are still obliged to fall back occasionally on the aboi'igines. But there islittle love lost on either side, and on the termination of their engagement, usuallyfor one or two years, the Kafirs quit the farms and return to their resjjectivetribes. At times they even contrive to get recalled by their chiefs before thestipulated term of service has expired The Kafir works in any case grudginglyfor a master. He has, as a rule, his own hut, his own field of maize, and perhaps afew head of cattle ; hence when asked by Europeans to take service for a salary,ho is apt indignantly to decline, and even toto accept employment under him.turn the tables by asking the whiteThus the Natal planters are naturally driven to cast about for less independenthirelings. They have tried Hottentots and members of tribes more to the north ;but find the mild Hindu more suitable for their purpose. The colonial Governmentadvances the funds required to recruit these Asiatics, who are supplied tothe various j^lantations according to the demand. The period of contract is iisuallyfor ten years, and in return for his daily labour of from eight to ten hours thecoolie receives wages at the rate of about twelve shillings a month, besides hisfood, lodging, and an outfit. Those who complete the full term of their engagementcan claim a free passage back to their homes, imless they prefer to offer theirservices according to the current prices in the laboiu' market. Most of themremain in the colony and marry one of their fellow-countrywomen, for theImporters of coolies are bound to introduce both sexes, in the proportion of fortj'women to a hundred men. Some become gardeners or owners of small holdingsin the neighbourhood of the towns ; others turn to trade and open shops, usuallyn the haberdashery or provision lines, and, thanks to their extreme frugality,have become formidable competitors with the European dealers, who loudly com-