Author: Holden, The Rev. William C.
Title: HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF NATAL, South Africa. To Which is added An Appendix, Containing a Brief History of the Orange-River Sovereignty and of the Various Races Inhabiting it, the Great Lake N'Gami, Commandoes of the Dutch Boers, &c., &c
Description: Alexander Heylin, 1855. 1st Ed. viii + 463pp. + [i] publ. advert. 3 folding maps, 4 tinted litho. plates, 15 ills. on wood including 6 full page, folding chart (detached and affixed ot an additional tinted litho. ‘D’Urban ...’). Some browning and occasional spotting, pp.59-60 dust soiled and together with pp.17-50 with sm. marginal crease, paper split to upper hinge, original gilt lettered blind embossed brown cloth, spine chipped with sm. splits to joints, minor marking. ¶ Mendelssohn Vol. 1 p.724. ‘One of the most valuable books on the early history of Natal. At the time of its publication the Colony had only been recognised as a British dependency for ten years, but it had already made big strides, and the author was very optimistic as regards its natural advantages, referring, among other matters, to the harbour of D'Urban as being safer than that of Table Bay. Much is related as to the doings of the early pioneers. It is stated that these early settlers came on the scene about three years after the total devastation of the country by the Zulu king Chaka, and prominent among them are mentioned Fynn, Farwell, Gardiner, King and Isaacs. The settlement of the Dutch in the Colony, and the eventual occupation of it by the British are carefully gone into. A good description is given of the gradual establishment of civil government, and of the progress of the Colony, with notes on the towns, villages, and other settlements, and the Kaffir War, together with detailed information as to the position of the colony at the time of writing. There is an appendix entitled A Brief History of the Orange River Sovereignty, which affords an account of what is now known as the Orange River Colony at that period. The question regarding the retention or otherwise of the government of this tract of country by the British is carefully discussed, and the opinions of most of the statesmen of that day are given on the subject, together with quotations from newspapers and debates in Parliament and elsewhere, the author being evidently in favour of the retention of the country as a British Colony.’

Keywords: VOYAGES AND TRAVEL; AFRICA


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