how well Indian and other tropical fruits thrive in their new home. Peaches grow in profusion-and are made into peach brandy. Oranges, at most seasons of the year, may be had for the asking, and the curator of the Botanic Gardens at Durban charges but 9d. a hundred for them. The green fig is also plentiful, so is the pine apple of which you may buy four for threepence. The pome-granate, nectarine, the Tangarine orange (called the naartje by the Dutch), the almond, the apricot, the mulberry, the banana, the plantain, gourds and melons of all sorts, the guava and mango, and all other Indian fruits, the loquat, and last but not least, the delicious fruit of the passion-flower (the granadilla), the seed pod of which hardens and becomes perfectly red. If you cut this shell in half with a knife your effort will be rewarded by discovering within a delicious ambrosia. This needs to be scooped out with a spoon. Every variety of the lemon tribe grows in this lovely colony of Natal,-the citron, lime, and shaddock. In that warm climate one can accomplish strange feats, and I have often disposed of a dozen small lemons at a sitting.

CHAPTER XXIII.

CURIOUS PLANTS AND FLOWERS.

FAST ROOTED IN THE FRUITFUL SOIL."

But above all other beauties which contribute to make this part of the journey attractive is the abundance of sub-tropical vegetation which thickly clothes the soil not under cultivation, prominent among which could be noted many different varieties of acacia, Indian fig, euphorbias, and parasitic plants, the last producing wonderfully attractive flora and fruit. But in the majority of instances these jewels of the vegetable world have to be avoided, for beneath their gorgeous colouring and fascinating shape lurks poison of the deadliest description.-Parker Gilmore. By a process of natural transition I come to a subject about which it is only right I should say something, namely, the curious or notable plants and flowers which came under my notice in the Cape Colony and Natal. I shall not deal with these botanically.

The Sugar Tree and Silver Bush of the Cape Colony are justly esteemed for their beauty. Of the native woods of Natal I suppose the assegai wood is considered by the Kaffirs to be of the most paramount importance, for from it they make the handles of those deadly instruments which they know how to use so effectively. The Kaffir holds the weapon between his thumb and first two fingers, about six inches below the spear head, and with a comical twist of the arms, and a series of vocal exclamations-for he sings or intones on every possible occasion, working, playing, or dancing-propels the assegai with unerring aim at any object he may wish to assail. I once put some young Kaffirs to test in the art of assegai throwing. They made a boom tree their target, and their assegais stuck so fast into the heart of the tree that it had to be cut all round with a bush knife before they could be drawn out. This Kaffir boom tree is very common, it bears a beautiful red flower. Of the other prominent Natal trees, there is the red

mangrove used for fencing posts, etc. Stink wood, Yellow wood, and Iron wood, all hard woods, are much used in railway construction. The knob thorn is a peculiar tree, the bark of which is covered with large thorns resembling the horns of a rhinoceros, or more aptly, a number of limpets sticking to a rock. The colonists cut this tree into lengths and subject it to a polishing process. Thus embellished, capital flower pots are the re

sult. The hardest trees are selected, and knobby branches are cut from them which are converted into knob-kerreys. The Syringa tree is to be met with everywhere. These trees are planted in many delightful groves for lovers' made. The Umcovote is a very large tree, it bears small poisonous apples, like crab apples. Under it boks are wont to graze, for although the berries are hurtful to human beings, they are the natural food of antelopes, and sportsmen generally station themselves within range of a clump of Umcovotes. The Sneeze hout, the Milk tree, and the wild fig are as plentiful in Natal, as is Teak in the old colony. There is another conspicuous, though common tree, although I don't know what it is called. The Kaffirs split up its branches into little slips which they use in lieu of string or twine. They tie it round the bundles of wood which they convey into town for sale. These shreds of wood are of a sappy nature, and when dry they become perforated. The boys of Durban are never so happy as when they can find a piece to smoke. Nearly half of the colonial trees are thorny, and tear and lacerate the flesh terribly in making one's way through the bush. The Monkey cord hangs in profuse festoons from the branches of the trees, arches in the forest and obscures the sun's rays, making a canopy for the connecting link to disport in 'twixt earth and heaven. The Cape bulbs have a world-wide reputation. Ixias, Gladioli, Orchids, and Oxalis abound.

One of the most curious plants to be found in the Natal bush is the Elephant's Foot plant, a strange, spongy growth resembling a conglomerate mass of tortoises. It sends forth running and

creeping shoots.

Euphorbias and Cacti in many varieties must not be omitted. The worst part of native Natal and Cape flowers, is that they

THE WEAK POINT OF AFRICAN FLORA.

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have, as a rule, no smell. They are beautiful to look upon, like the birds, which are disappointing in that they cannot sing. As to the berries many are very poisonous. But all our favourite English plants are acclimated in Natal, and especially roses which grow, as I have said, in rich profusion and attain to great excellence of type.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE LABOUR QUESTION.-CAPITAL AND LABOUR.

MONEY IS THE SINEWS OF INDUSTRY AS OF WAR."

"Let capital find its most lucrative course, commodities their fair price, industry and intelligence their natural reward, idleness and folly their natural punishment." -Lord Macaulay.

THE labour question is so intimately connected with the problems with which the natives are mixed up, that I mistrust my ability to successfully treat the two subjects apart, but as I wish to reserve what I have to say about the native difficulties, and the policy and legislation affecting them, until I arrive at those chapters which will essay to deal with the many native races of South Africa, I shall ask my readers' kind indulgence which I hope will induce them to dovetail what I shall be compelled to say here upon the black races, into subsequent observations, bearing more directly upon the same subject.

sense.

The labour difficulty is the difficulty par excellence of the colonies, and it is well nigh an insurmountable barrier to progress. It stultifies, nay paralyses the colonies in every way and in every Natal is perhaps the greatest sufferer. The Dutch republics are inhabited by strong firm men, not over inclined to indulge a sentimental view of matters which narrowly affect their immediate interests, and in consequence the natives are coerced in a real oldfashioned manner, and made to feel that the will and pleasure of their masters are law. In short, they have anything but a pleasant time of it. This is especially true of the Transvaal. The Cape colonists, since the introduction of responsible government, have had those natives who are within their gates, pretty well under