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.
