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THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — NATAL
Industry.
Of the total area of the colony 2,250,000 acres have been set apart for Native occupationj 7,598,837 acres have been acquired by grant from the Crown by Europeans, 1,604,528 acres have been sold on deferred payments, and about 650,655 acres remain unalienated from the Crown. Of the total area in 1897 247,160 acres were under cultivation by Europeans, the leading crop for export being sugar (produce, 1897, 365,368 cwt. ), though large quan- tities of maize, wheat, oats, and other cereal and green crops are grown. Tea-planting has been recently introduced, 2,664 acres being under tea in 1897, the yield for the year being about 848,930 lbs. Estimated total num- ber of acres under cultivation by Natives, 598,790.
Of live stock owned by Europeans in 1897 there were 125,992 horned cattle, 54,795 angora goats, 649,475 sheep, and 26,921 horses ; and in pos- session of the Native population in 1897, there were 114,829 horned cattle, 252,183 goats, 21,487 sheep, and 21,760 horses. A large decrease has been caused by rinderpest.
The coal-fields of the Colony, which are of large extent, are now in direct communication with the seaport of Durban. The output for the year 1897 was 243,960 tons, which is likely to be considerably exceeded in future. An export trade is being established. Some attempts have been made to utilise the rich beds of iron ore which have been found in many parts of the Colony.
Commerce.
The total value of imports and exports by sea has been as follows : —
Year
Imports
Exports
£
£
1890
4,417,085
1,379,657
1893
2,236,738
1,242,169
1894
2,316,596
1,197,611
1895
2,469,303
1,318,502
1896
5,437,863
1,785,375
1897
5,983,589
1,621,923
About 70 per cent, of the imports are from, and 36 per cent, of the exports to. Great Britain.
The values of the principal imports and exports in 1896 and 1897 were : —
Imports
1896 £
1897
Exports
1896
1897
£
£
£
Apparel and slops
353,514
414,269
Angora hair
24,925
34,892
Haberdashery .
413,716
480,208
Hides and skins
42,730
51,220
Flour, grain
527,204
338,277
Sugar. . . .
22,376
12,011
Leather goods, &c.
273,988
263,708
Coal ....
88,334
89,863 I
Iron and goods .
570,218
612,864
Wool ....
590,605
474,681
Cottons . . .
132,412
75,638
Gold, bar, &c. .
102,624
18,223
Woollens . .
101,859
74,311
Bark ....
16,450
17,659
1 Machinery . .
367,870
397,528
Spirits (rum) .
18
5
1 Wines, spirits, ales
165,856
142,904
The following is the value of the imports into Great Britain from Natal,
