624

NATAL.

years, the former government aid to this effect having come to an end.

Trade and Commerce.

The value of the total imports and exports of the colony, in the five years 1865 to 1869, was as follows : —

Tears

Imports

Exports

£

£

1865

455,206

210,254

1866

263,305

203,402

1867

269,589

225,671

1868

317,432

271,949

1869

380,331

363,262

The extent of the commercial intercourse of the Colony of Natal with the United Kingdom is exhibited in the subjoined table, which gives the value of the total exports from Natal to Great Britain and Ireland, and of the total imports of British produce during the five years 1865 to 1869 :—

Year

Total Exports from Natal

Total Imports of

to Great Britain

British Produce into Natal

£

£

1865

• 201,293

223,200

1866

183,053

172,182

1867

156.711

191,570

1868

• 262,787

269,133

1869

373,500

245,536

The staple article of export from Natal is sheep's wool ; next to which in importance stand sugar, ivory, and hides. In the year 1865 the wool exports to Great Britain amounted in value to 100,325/., rising to 116,461/. in 1866, to 115,733/. in 1867, to 158,899/. in 186«, and to 208,416/. in 1869. Next in importance to wool stands raw sugar, the exports of which were of the value of 56,146/. in 1869, anduntanned hides of the value of 40,954/. in t e same year. Many of the exports of the colony, particularly wool, come from the neighbouring Dutch republics, which also absorb more than one-third of the imports. The natives of the colony, though extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits, have not as yet been able to produce any articles of export; but it is believed that their industry will before long add thereto in the shipments of

coffee and maize, both of which are grown in large quantities.