In addition to the trees, shrubs and grasses, described else where, mention may be made of the flowers, which are often beautiful. Some of these, like the red bush lily, grow in the shade of the patches of bush. Others are more tolerant of light, and are to be found in the open. Among these are the fire lily, which blooms in the early spring before the grasses have grown beyond a few inches, the agapanthus, the arum lily along the streams, the gladioli, etc. A very common grassland flower, and one that blooms late, when the grasses are tall, is the leonotis, which attains a height of 5 or 6 ft., and has terra-cotta to orange coloured flowers. Many a hillside in early spring is enlivened by the flowers of the aloes, in various shades of red. The delight fully rich crimson of the Kafir boom blossoms is peculiarly characteristic of much of Natal.
(See also SOUTH AFRICA, UNION OF.) Some of the smaller buck have increased of late years, owing to the cover afforded them by the large wattle plantations. Jackals are un desirably numerous in some of the upland districts, and they often destroy many lambs. Otters occur in some of the rivers. Snakes are common. The chief sporting birds are the quail, partridge and guinea fowl. About 450 sq.m. of country have been set aside as game reserves, in which no animals may be killed at any time. There are several such reserves, one near Giants' Castle, to protect the surviving eland, and one on the Mkusi, in Zulu land, where the inyala (buck) still survives, as well as impala, the Zululand suni, etc. Reserves have been established in the Klip River and the Umgeni districts. In addition, several animals and birds have been declared royal game, and cannot be shot or captured. They include the white, or square-lipped, rhinoceros, which is still found in Zululand, the elephant, female eland, the impala, inyala, roan antelope, springbok, sassaby ; crested crane, Stanley crane, etc.
The natives (see ZULULAND, CAPE COLONY) numbered in 1931 approximately 1,343,300, or nearly 8o% of the total population. About half of them live under tribal condi tions on locations, which are saturated with population, under present conditions of skill and methods of exploitation. The other half live on farms, owned by Europeans, on Crown lands, or in the towns. In 1931 the Asiatics were estimated at 161,100. It is largely concentrated in the coastal belt. Originally imported as indentured labourers for the sugar plantations, many of these Indians have become small market gardeners, or have taken em ployment in hotels and domestic service or industry, where they supply much of the unskilled and semi-skilled labour. The Brit ish elements constitute the majority of the white population, English predominating. The "northern districts," Utrecht and Vryheid, however, are chiefly Dutch in population, language and religion. In recent years the percentage of Dutch to the total
population has probably increased, owing to the considerable numbers employed in the Government services, such as rail ways, police, etc. There is a definite German group, centred about New Hanover, and retaining its own language. Scandina vian settlers about the Umzimkulu, and in Durban, especially con nected with the whaling industry, contribute a very valuable ele ment to the population. There is also an appreciable French ele ment, which originally migrated to Natal, largely from Mauritius, in connection with the sugar industry, though it is no longer confined to that industry. The number of "coloured" people in Natal is quite small, the "mixed and others" in 1931 numbering about 13,200.
Apart from Pietermaritzburg, the capital, and Dur ban (q.v.), the only port and the largest centre, the towns of Natal are quite small. Only two, in addition to the two just mentioned, have a white population of over 2,000: Ladysmith, whites (1930 3,659; total (1921) 6,783, which is now a railway centre of some importance, and Vryheid, whites (1931) 3,386; total (1921) 4,019. Glencoe, whites (1931) 1,205; total (1921) 1,212, including 552 whites, a railway junction, and near the coal fields; Newcastle, whites (1931) 1,724; total (1921) 5,767. Vryheid and Newcastle are also near coal mines, and Newcastle is developing an iron and steel industry.
Railway construction has been greatly handicapped by the varied topography. The main line from Durban to the Transvaal climbs to 1,808 ft. at Krautzkloof (23 m.), 3,006 ft. at Thornville Junction (61 m.), drops to 2,218 at Pietermaritzburg (73 m.), rises to 3,702 at Hilton Road (84 m.), to 4,807 at Nottingham Road (116 m.), drops to 3,28o ft. at Colenso (185 m.), and rises again to 5,429 ft. at Volksrust, just over the Transvaal border, and to 5,52o at Van Reenens, just within the Orange Free State. From the main system a line runs from Durban along the coast southward to Port Shepstone, and northward as far as the Pongola in Zululand to serve the sugar cane area. From Pietermaritzburg a line with two short branches has been constructed to Krantzkop through the wattle belt. Another runs south westward across the grain of the coun try to open up East Griqualand ; from Glencoe Junction a line, running through Dundee and Vryheid, carries large quantities of coal. There are a few other smaller lines, which can be seen on a map. As in other parts of the world, the railways are feeling the effect of motor competition along some stretches. The jour ney by road from Pietermaritzburg to Durban is shorter and quicker than by rail.