and shipped to England, thereby practically confirming his sanguine expectations. The sale of these by public auction, at Manchester, with the broker's report thereon, at once stamps the colony as the most promising for enterprising emigrants and small capitalists, that we possess; and affords a positive relief to the minds of our manufacturers, inasmuch as another resource for their supplies is thus found appended to the empire. England requiring an annual supply of bales, it is of vital importance to the general trade of the kingdom, in case of a rupture of our friendly relations with the United States, that the cotton grounds should be worked, and that as quickly as possible. The following statement of the facilities offered by Natal for this national object, is therefore highly satisfactory.

MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Important new Cotton-Growing District.-Port Natal.

An exceedingly interesting interview was held at the Chamber of Commerce, on Thursday morning, by Mr. Blaine, a gentleman who has been residing at Port Natal for some years, with the Directors of the Chamber, respecting the capabilities of that country for the growth of cotton. The directors present were T. Bazley, the president; Mr. Lewis Williams, the vice-president; Mr. J. Owen, Mr. Lucas, Mr. W. R. Callender, Mr. E. Shawcross, Mr. Langworthy, and others; Mr. T. Boothman, the secretary, was also present, and Mr. Blaine's brother.

The President, in introducing the business, said :-I have pleasure in introducing Mr. Blaine, of Port Natal, who had been in that colony four or five years. He has brought with him specimens of cotton grown at Port Natal, which are of the most beautiful description. They appear to be of various classes, some of them adopted to the most coarse and ordinary qualities of our manufactures, whilst another class, and that the most useful, are adapted to the finest and highest qualities of goods we produce. I have not seen more beautiful samples of cotton suitable for the manufactures of Lancashire for some years, and if we could have a sufficient supply, I cannot imagine a more important and valuable boon to this county than Port Natal could confer. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. Blaine immediately rose and said :-Gentlemen,-Having recently returned, after a few years' residence, from the British colony of Natal, I have hastily thrown together a few general observations, which I thought would be sufficiently interesting and important to bring under the notice of the Chamber of Commerce. With the aid of the practical illustrations, and the specimens of native productions, I hope to be able to afford to your minds comprehensive and correct ideas of the general aspect and capabilities of a colony which might be brought at once into important relations with the mother country. It is, however, more especially, its eminent adaptation for the production of cotton, which it is capable of affording in incalculable supplies, that I wish to introduce to your notice.

Before entering, however, on this part of the subject, it will be necessary to give a brief description of the country, as so little is known regarding it to England.

Natal is situated on the eastern coast of Southern Africa, and extends from the river Tojella, its northern boundry, which separates it from Zoolaland, to the river Um-zam coola; to the south, which divides it from the territory generally regarded as belonging to the Amaponda chief Faku. Both these rivers rise, by numerous branches, out of the Quathlamba or Drakenberg

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mountains, which form the well-defined western boundary, separating it from the Basutu tribes. On the east, its shores are washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean.

Natal was not formally declared a British possession until the year 1843. For many years previous, the English Government had seemed, more by occasional interference and general neglect, than by official document, to have alternately rejected and acknowledged the claims of Natal to be considered as belonging to it. The result (i.e., British possession) was ultimately brought about, by the migration of disaffected Dutch Boers from the contiguous Cape colony, who, wandering eastward to a country to settle in, were attracted by the remarkable fertility and beauty of Natal, where they attempted to establish an independent republic.

Upon this, their allegiance to the British Government was reclaimed; and a military expedition sent out to reduce them to obedience. Subsequently, an organized Government was formed, and the occupants of land confirmed in their possessions, on certain conditions. A spirit of disaffection continued, however, to prevail among the Dutch settlers, who quitted the country in numerous bodies, after disposing of their farms, thus foolishly relinquishing their interest in a valuable soil, which it is hoped future occupants will turn to a much better account. Many of these misguided people have moved in a N.E. direction, nearly to the latitude of Delagoa Bay; many have perished in the wilderness; and hundreds are living beyond the reach of civilizing influences, in a state of wretched barbarism, subsisting on the produce of their guns, and clothing themselves in the skins of beasts, whilst others have sold their lands and returned to the old colony. This melancholy condition of a whole people must, in a great measure, be attributed to the ruling power acting in ignorance of the peculiar social condition of the people, and the circumstances of the country.

At the present time, the country is almost depopulated of white inhabitants, the majority being collected in the two towns-a few enterprising men, chiefly of British origin, were settled on lands in their neighbourhood, and are zealously engaged in attempting to develope the resources of their adopted country. Extensive tracts of valuable land remain unoccupied, and are open for purchase either from the local government, or from original grantees. Having given you a very slight and imperfect sketch of the present political and social condition of Natal, I would proceed to say a few words on the natural features, the climate, the natural productions, the properties of the soil, and the probable capabilities of this country.

Having travelled overland, and passed five months in the country between Graham's Town and Natal, I am enabled to corroborate the testimony of previous travellers, in stating that on approaching Natal, the country exhibits a gradually increasing beauty and fertility, and that its natural capabilities far surpass those of any other portion of Southern Africa. The natural scenery exhibits great variety of feature. Near the east it is often of a broken character, consisting of hill and dale, diversified occasionally by deep ravines, affording perpetual streams of water, and the steep sides of which are clothed with the mimosa and other trees.

On approaching the Quathlamba mountains, a gradual ascent of successive undulations is seen, which, although destitute of trees, from the practice the natives adopt of annually firing the grass, offers admirable pasture for cattle and extensive lands suitable for general agricultural purposes. Extensive flats, laying low, and studded with clumps of pine trees, mark the course of the larger ravines. With little labour these districts could be put under water, and are well adapted for the cultivation of rice. In the close highly-finished

miniature scenery which adorns many parts of the country, the English traveller will recognize features bearing a resemblance to that picturesque county, Derbyshire.

Throughout the whole extent, Natal is traversed by several noble rivers, branching off into innumerable streams; and it is thus eminently distinguished from the more southern and western portions of the continent, where the supply of water is very precarious. The larger rivers, taking their course along the base of well-wooded, grassy hills, have a gradual descent, and throughout the year present a strong and clear stream. The highest lands afford abundance of water; as the traveller proceeds along these elevated grassy tracts of country, he very frequently passes along the borders of a sort of natural well, from three to eight feet in depth, through the bottom of which a vigorous stream of water is passing, in a subterraneous channel, down the hill sides to the valley below.

The climate of Natal, though generally warm, is highly salubrious, and throughout a greater portion of the year, is really delicious; the sky being brilliantly clear, the temperature mild, and refreshing rains frequent. Being within the range of the trade winds, the climate is uniform, not fluctuating and uncertain, like the more southern and western parts of the continent. From observation, the extreme range of the thermometer in the shade during 1844, was found to be 41 degrees, viz. from 47, in July, to 88, in January. The rainy season begins in the first week in September, and ends in March; comprising the summer months of the year. During this interval, thunder storms are almost of daily occurrence.

In May, June, and July, cool winds prevail, accompanied by occasional showers. Hot winds are very rare; this happy exemption from one of the chief Scourges of warm climates probably arises from the circumstances of the Quathlamba summits, affording a cooling medium for all winds blowing from the interior.

Though Natal presents, in many parts, the physical character of a country likely to produce fever, dysentery, and other diseases of a tropical climate. I can say, from extended observation and experience, that it enjoys a singular immunity from disease of any kind. During four years residence I witnessed but two cases of fever, both occurring after extreme exhaustion and protracted dissipation. Occasional cases of dysentery and diseases of the heart are met with, but these can, in most instances, be attributed to extreme indulgence in spirituous drinks.

The country is still the abode of numerous kinds of wild animals, for civilized man has not yet held sway long enough in these regions to exterminate them. Among the most remarkable is the buffalo, the hippopotamus, the leopard, the hyæna, the eland, alligator, boa constrictor, and elephant. There is also plenty of minor game, several varieties of the antelope, partridges, quails, &c. Although much attention has not yet been paid to the cultivation of fruits, yet it has been ascertained that the banana, fig, orange, lemon, pomegranate, and grape, as well as most European fruits, can be plentifully produced. The natives cultivate large quantities of Indian corn, pumpkins, millet seed, sweet reed, sweet potatoes, &c,

Coal of good quality has been obtained in the neighbourhood of P. M. Burg, it is procurable near the surface in various parts of the colony; and many kinds of hard and fine grained woods are found in the country. The soils exist in great variety; strong red and black clay, light sandy soil, and black mossy loam are found, all of good quality and in great depth. The soil is generally very rich, probably in consequence of the vegetation being left for