CONGO FREE STATE

[s. 211] : The exploration of the Congo by Stanley in 1876-77 opened a new door of entrance into the interior of Africa, and led to the establishment in 1884 of the Congo Free This is an independent state under the State. sovereignty of Leopold II., of Belgium. It lies between French Congo and the Egyptian Sudan on the north, and Rhodesia and Portuguese W. Africa on the south, reaching from the Atlantic Ocean, which it touches by only a narrow coast, to Lake Tanganyika and German E. Africa on the east. It is drained chiefly by the Congo and its tributaries. Its rich flora, vast forests and fertile soil make it a tropical garden of great agriculpo ibilities, while its mineral wealth, mostly unknown, may be also of great importance. A commerce amounting annually to an exchange in imports and exports of about 816,000,000 has already been established (1903). The lands of the Free State are divided into three cla es: First, those in the actual occupation of the natives, who do not recognize private property in the soil, but hold their lands as long as they choose to cultivate them, but have no permanent title to them. The second cla is composed of lands now occupied by foreigners, who hold by a government title. All these titles are registered, and there is no difficulty in the sale or transfer of these lands. The third cla consists of lands as yet unoccupied. These to the extent of 25 acres can be occupied by a foreigner, if he comes to an understanding with the natives about them; but he cannot cut timber or open mines without a conce ion from the government. The native population is difficult to estimate, more or le of it being nomadic, and but a small tural percentage sufficiently established in known localities to make calculation reliable. The estimates vary from fourteen millions to double that number. They are mostly of the Bantu race. There are some Azandes in the northeast and scattered tribes of pigmies in various sections. The religion is mostly a revolting fetishism, and cannibalism is not uncommon. Sorcerers and wizards are found everywhere, and exercise a predominant influence over the superstitious natives. Belief in evil spirits is universal and the religious ceremonies for the most part are grotesque and barbarous. Polygamy and slavery are an integral part of the social fabric and of family life. Many parts of the country remain unknown and in a condition of primitive wildne , while in some of the eastern districts the inhabitants are still terrified by the raids of Arab slave traders. At the same time there appears 13 to be indisputable evidence that a terror of the Belgian officials is depopulating some districts as effectually as in former days did the terror of the Arab slave hunter. Protestant mi ionary enterprises are carried on in the Congo Free State by the ABMU, the BMS, the FCMS, the RBMU, the PS, the PB, and the Swedish Mi ionary Society. These societies have established stations at 23 different places in the State. According to official estimates there are 120 Protestant, and 180 Roman Catholic mi ionaries in the Congo Free Stata. Of the Roman Catholic mi ions there are four each under different organizations: 1. The Mi ion du Saint Esprit, at Banana and Boma. There are 4 priests and 2 lay brethren at these stations, and some small schools which give industrial training to the children. 2. The Belgian Mi ion: Established in 1888 at Kwa-mouth on the Upper Congo, with a second station projected at Luluaburg on the Lulua River, a branch of the Kasai, just on the southern boundary line of the Congo Free State. 3. A New Mi ion at Bangola, on the northern bank of the Upper Congo, about 125 miles above under the care of the The Catholic mi ion steamer, XIII., is plying on the Upper Congo. Leo Equatorville. This is Jesuits. 4. The Mi ion of the Peres d’ Algerie (Algerian priests), on Lake Tanganyika, in the southeastern part of the Free State. They have 2 stations, Kibanja on Burton Gulf, and Mpala at the mouth Lofuku, both on the lake. They are laboring among the Urua tribe, but do not report of the much succe . Bailey, Travel and Adventures in the Congo Free State, London, 1894; Bentley (Rev. W. H.), Life on the Congo, London, 1887 Pioneering on the Congo, London and New York, 1890; Burrows, Lanii o/ (Ac Pigmies, London, 1889 Stanley (H. M.), The Congo and the Founding of the Free State, 2 vol.s., London, 1878; Guinne (Mrs. H. Grattan), The New Worla of Central Africa., London and New York.;; 211