Natal

(na'tal,) an English colonial po e ion in S.E. Africa, washed by the Indian Ocean, situate bet. S. Lat. 27° 40′-30° 40', and E. Lon. 29°-31° 10', and b. N. and N.E. by the Zulu country, and S. by Caffraria, and separated from the Orange Free State on the W., by the Draakenberg range of mts. Area, 16,150 sq.m. Extent of seaboard, 170 m. Surface generally mountainous, and well-watered, but with no navigable rivers. C. D'Urban. This region was discovered by the Portuguesə navigator, Vasco di Gama, on Christmas Day, 1497 whence its name. Pop. 1877, 325,512. Na'tal, a city of Brazil, C. ofp. Rio Grande do Norte, 17 m. N. ofPernambuco. Pop. 10,000. [s. 632]