The Norwegian Settlers: Marburg Natal 1882

floors. Frogs, w asps nests and snakeskins had to be sw ept out. Soon, how ­ ever, th e coffee kettles w ere boiling in the m iddle of th e floor and the fam ilies w ere refreshed a fter th e strenuous w alk.

W hen th e ox-wagons arrived and the cups and dishes w ere unpacked, they found th a t m uch of th eir crockery had been broken on the way, an ox-wagon having o v erturned on th e steep hill. The em pty cases w ere soon converted into tables, and chairs. A tw o hundred pound bag of m aize m eal w as given to each fam ily.

T hey had arriv ed a t the place of th e ir dream s, and felt the w arm sun on th e hillsides w ith the beginning of sum m er. Trees grew by th e spruits and th e rolling veld gave prom ise of fields of corn, b u t there w as a secret feeling of dism ay as th ey began to see th e difficulties ahead. Still the joy of a successful voyage and safe arriv al w as great, and to build a hom e and m ake a success of th e ir place in th e Colony of N atal w as th e firm decision of one and all.

C ertainly th e G overnm ent had been helpful and generous. W hat th e futu re held eith er of prosperity o r adversity no one could know .

NATAL MERCURY REPORT: Arrival of the “Lapland” yesterday. Norwegian Emigrants “All W ell” “D eparture of th e steam er for the Um zim kulu, the C.H.M.S. ‘L apland,’ w hich w as expected here a day o r tw o since, arrived at th is port early yesterday m orn­ ing. She had on board 36 fam ilies nu m bering 229 persons, who possess be­ tw een them th e capital to th e extent of about £2,400. They are N orw egian em i­ grants, and appear to be a fine and h ard y class of people, w ho w ill m ake first rate colonists. A rrangem ents had been m ade to give up the w hole of the passenger accom m odation on board the ‘L apland’ to them , and to carry them out direct.

“T his concession has been highly appreciated by all concerned, and those gentlem en w ho inspected them yesterday m orning, prior to th eir departure for th e U m zim kulu, found them to be in tip-top condition, and all content and happy.

“Those w ho visited them w ere Mr. B. W. G reenacre (m em ber of the E.L.I.B.), Mr. C. H. B utler (Secretary), Mr. D. C. A ndrew (A gent), Mr. T. P etersen (who acted as in terp reter) and a few N orw egians in th e tow n w ho had som e friends on board. W e hope in th e course of a day or tw o to be able to place before our readers som e in terestin g particulars connected w ith these useful em igrants.”

“The first rom ance” in th e settlem ent, began w hen young Mr. W. Bazley chose his bride-to-be on th e bank of th e river. She w as Miss M argaret M artinsen. T heir courtship w as carried on w ith th e help of a N orw egian-English dictionary, and th eir rendezvous w as Sangm eister’s Store.

Rev. E m il B erg w as delighted to perform the m arriage cerem ony, and Gen­ eral B issett read an address at the w edding. It w as truly a festive gala day.

T he bridal couple w ere tow ed in B azley’s boat by a w haler up th e river, and from th e banks, Bazley’s inevitable dynam ite explosions resounded. The young couple lived in tw o rondavels for m any years. T hey had tw o sons, W illie and H a rry K nut.

On his retirem ent, Bazley built a m agnificent hom e on th e south bank of th e river, overlooking th e riv er and sea. T here he carried on his hobby of collect­ ing fossils and books, u n til his death.

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