of his allotment and buildings thereon as soon as the above regulations are conformed to. 20th. That all who may feel inclined to take farms in the vicinity of Port Natal, as well as those already in possession of lands, report the same in writing to the town committee, described their situation, extent, boundaries, &c; all lands not so reported to be considered as void. 21st. That any infringement of the above articles subjects the individual to the forfeiture of his allotment, provided he does not conform within three months after due notice shall have been given him by the town committee. 22nd. That a voluntary subscription be entered into this day, for the purpose of establishing a town fund; and tenders be received by committee for performing by contract the cleaning of the streets and squares of the town; that the lowest tender be accepted, and that F. Berkin, Esq., be solicited to fill the office of treasurer. 23rd. That two auditors be elected every six months to examine and report the treasurer's accounts, and that they be authorised to call a meeting to receive their report and approve of the toria. 25th. That the thanks of the inhabitants of Port Natal are justly due to Messrs. Berkin, Collis, and Hogle, for the readiness evinced by them in conceding their respective claims to lands considered essential for the comfort of their fellow-citizens. Resolved, That a copy of the above resolutions and petition be forwarded to the editor of the "Graham's Town Journal," who is requested to strike off one hundred copies of the regulations for the use of the inhabitants of D'Urban, and to insert a copy of the same in the "Graham's Town Journal," with the list of subscriptions. C. J. PICKMAN, Sec. and Act. Treasurer. List of Subscriptions for the purpose of clearing the Bush, and other necessary Improvements in the Town and Township of D'Urban. Capt. Gardiner J. Collis, Esq. H. Hogle C. Pickman P. Kew J. Cane T. Carden G. Cyrus J. Pierce C. Adams The following is the petition referred to in the foregoing: Petition of the Householders of the Town of D'Urban, Port Natal. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY, We, the undersigned British subjects, inhabitants of Port Natal and its vicinity, have commenced building a town called D'Urban, in honour of your Excellency. We hold in our possession extensive tracts of excellent land, a considerable portion of which has long been under cultivation: many of us are occupied in conducting a valuable trade in hides and ivory, the former of which is almost exclusively obtained within the limits, which by mutual consent of surrounding chieftains have been con ceded to us. In consequence of the exterminating wars of Charka, late king of the Zoolus, and other causes, the whole country included between the Umzimcoolu and Tugăla rivers is now unoccupied by its original possessors; and, with a very few except tions, is totally uninhabited. tered this settlement for protection; the amount Numbers of natives from time to time have enof whom at this present moment cannot be less than three thousand. These all acknowledge us as their chiefs, and look to us for protection, notwithstanding which we are living in the neighborhood of powerful native states, without the shadow of a law, or a recognised authority among us. We, therefore, humbly pray your Excellency, for the sake of humanity-for the upholding of the British character in the eyes of the natives-for the well-being of this increasing community-for the cause of morality and religion, to transmit this our petition to his majesty's government, praying that it may please his majesty to recognise the country intervening between the Umzimcoolu and Tugăla rivers, which we have named "Victoria," in honour of our august princess, as a colony of the British empire, and to appoint a governor and council, with power to enact such laws and regulations as may be deemed expedient by them, in concert with a body of representatives chosen by ourselves, to constitute a house of assembly. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever 2 0 B. Biggar John Jones 1 10 Capt. Gardiner, R. N. J. Collis, Esq. Mr. John Cane Mr. John Jones stroying their communications with the interior, the difficulty of conveying away and secreting stolen cattle would be so great, that, independent of the check they would doubtless meet with in front, their whole system of warfare would at £50 0 once be frustrated; and it is evident, under such 20 0 circumstances, they must from necessity abandon 50 the attempt. 3 15 It surely will be unnecessary to advert to the 2 10 policy of occupying, even at a little expense, a 2 10 position which an unfriendly power might at any 2 0 time possess, and so materially turn to our disad20 vantage. This will doubtless occur to all who 20 have paid the slightest attention to our relations 20 in South Africa; but it may not be out of place to 10 go a step farther, and to assert the utter impracti50 cability of defending the province of Albany, the 20 fairest of our colonial possessions in that quarter 3 10 of the globe, unless at a most ruinous expense, in 10 the event of any rival power establishing itself at Port Natal,-with all the facilities afforded by such a position to abet and tamper with the vindictive character of the Amakosa tribes. His Excellency Sir Benjamin D'Urban has since subscribed the sum of 501. CONCLUSION. As in probability there will be many grave objections on the part of his majesty's government to extend the British protection to the new territory of Victoria, I should not feel myself justified in dismissing this part of the subject, even at the risk of being mistaken for a land speculator, without offering some further remarks, the substance of which has already been submitted to his Excellency Sir Benjamin D'Urban, and received his entire approval. In addition to the primary and important object of imparting Christian knowledge, and raising the natives from their present degraded condition, both as respects their temporal and spiritual interests, the advantages to the mother country, which would accrue from colonization, would be great and immediate. The trade in ivory is yearly increasing; and there is no doubt that the greater part, if not the whole, which now passes through the pestilential climate of De la Goa Bay, would find its way to the healthy shores of Port Natal; a presumption founded on no less an authority than Dingarn himself, who has intimated his intention of an almost exclusive barter with the English, should the settlement at Port Natal become sufficiently organised by a local government. By instituting a local authority-by restoring the British character to its proper standard-and by encouraging a friendly and commercial intercourse with the Zoolu nation, a powerful diversion would at once be effected in favor of colonial interests, and the probability of a collision between this warlike people and their southern neighbors, or what would be far more destructive to the tranquillity of our colonial frontier, an offensive and defensive alliance between them and the Amakosa be entirely precluded. With regard to expense, not the least important consideration in all matters connected with colonization, although it might be fairly advanced that ample amends would be made for a reasonable expenditure in the security of our existing frontier from aggression on predatory attack, still there are some peculiarities in the state of society in the country in question, which will go far to lighten the burden, should it ever be imposed. The natives at Port Natal are, almost to a man, refugees from the Zoolu nation, goaded by a rigorous government to desert for protection to our settlement: their very existence, therefore, depends upon their combining to defend the asylum they have chosen. For some years many of them have been entrusted with fire-arms for the purpose of hunting the elephant and buffalo; and in consequence, out of the whole body, some very tolerable marksmen can be selected. An European military force is not therefore absolutely necessary either for the support of the government or the defence of the settlement-a few veteran soldiers, for the purpose of instituting drills, and introducing an uniformity of system, would be quite sufficient, under the inspection of one or two non-commissioned officers, to organize a native force adequate for every necessity that might arise. But by far the most cogent argument, if indeed an additional one were wanting, is the beneficial bearing which such an acknowledged settlement would have upon the the native states throughout the whole intermediate territory from Victoria to the Cape colony. With Port Natal, as a point d'appui, to be strengthened at any time of emergency, any future hostile combination of the Amakosa would not only be utterly hopeless, but immediately suppressed; and that without incurring A kilt, of the commonest material, by way of the disasters of a tumultuous invasion or the one- clothing, and the loan of a cow (price about forty rous expenses of a lengthened campaign. A de- shillings) to each man, to be forfeited for miscontachment of marines acting in concert with the duct, but to become his actual property after three Amapondas, and falling upon their rear, would ef- years' faithful service, would be regarded as a fect more than ten times the same number of regu- sufficient remuneration, and comprises the whole lar forces from the opposite direction, as, by de-expense of a force, with which, after three months' training, I should have no hesitation in combating, if necessary, the whole Zoolu army. with whom is the residue of the spirit, that He will incline the hearts of many of his faithful servants willingly to offer themselves as laborers in the vineyard he has so graciously opened," I should then feel assured, not only that the blessing implored would descend in abundance upon that parched and thirsty soil, "making the wilderness to blossom as the rose," but also that you yourselves would experience the refreshing dews in your own souls. To these brief remarks, far too cursory for the importance of the subject, which, I trust, will find an abler advocate, I will only add my sincere hope that, for the security and permanency (under the Divine blessing) of the missionaries about to be sent to that country, the appeal to his majesty's government, contained in the petition inserted above, may not have been urged in vain; but contribute to such a result as may conduce, not only to the well-being of that infant settlement, but to the manifestation of the Gospel of grace, and the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom from the shores of Victoria to the very confines of Abyssi-pecially our prayers, and (when the path of duty nia. Let us never forget the wild shouts of our forefathers who immolated their offspring at the foot of their idols; and, as we have so freely received, let us also freely give, not our money only, but es seems clearly evident) our very selves, a living, One word to British Christians, and the patient holy, acceptable sacrifice-always bearing in mind reader who has followed me thus far is released. the injunction of an inspired apostle-" Ye are The Committee of the Church Missionary So. not your own, for ye are bought with a price; ciety, to whom application for succor was imme-therefore glorify God in your own body and your diately made on my arrival in England, have, I spirit, which are God's."-(1 Cor. vi. 19.) am thankful to say, accepted the two stations of Berea and Culoola as they now stand, as well as the entire management and control of the Zoolu mission in future; but from their absolute inability to supply the laborers for the work, it is very doubtful whether they will be enabled to carry their purpose into execution. To appeal to you, under such circumstances, is a duty which you will readily admit; and, although it should touch a string which has often been strained before, and is still vibrating to the latest call of Christian philanthropy, I feel assured that it is only to make known the circumstances and urgency of the case to meet with your cheerful and warmest support. Let it not be said that teachers are reluctant to go when nations are willing to be taught—that injured, benighted Africa, groping through the thick darkness, calls unheeded for your aid, and stretches out her hands to you in vain. Much as there is undoubtedly to be done at home, are there none willing to spend and be spent in the cause of their ever-blessed Redeemer abroad? Is the path, once so humbly and so holily pursued by a Schwartz, a Brainard, and a Martyn, become too hard and too self-denying for the modern disciples of Him, who, though he was rich, yet for our sake became poor-who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows-who not only loved us, but gave himself for us? Melancholy, indeed, would be the condition of that people, who (calling themselves Christians) could calmly sit down to count the cost, while millions were perishing for lack of knowledge; but far less enviable is the state of that heart, which cares not to respond when the ministers of the most high God point themselves to the path of missionary labor. It is to you, then, my fellow-Christians, that (under the guidance and blessing of God) we look for support; and could I but hear you reply, “Although we cannot of ourselves go forth, we will plead the poor African's cause at the throne of grace, and make special supplication unto Him, THE ZOOLU'S PRAYER. Hark! a voice on Albion's shore, It is the blood-stained Zoolu's prayer, Haste! haste!-to us direct your way, God's word we long to hear! What now we hold so dear! We love to hear the white man tell As you were once bereft of light, Without one star to guide! Your God will all provide ! And when your day of trial 's o'er, THE END |