The province of little men (5)

I believe the answer is:

natal

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'the province' is the definition.
(I have seen 'old province' mean 'natal' so perhaps 'province' could also mean 'natal')

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for natal that I've seen before include "description of delivery" , "Brazilian port" , "Pertaining to birth" , "Connected to birth" , "Former African place" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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