There are as yet no European manufacturing plants in the Free State. In some districts the natives work in wood, ivory, and metals with no small skill.
The commerce has grown with remarkable rapidity. The general export trade, which amounted to only $3,000,000 in 1596, rose to nearly $10,000,000 in 1900. while the imports in creased during the same period from about $3, 100,000 to over $6,100,000. Of these exports for 1900, about 90 per cent. were special, as were also SO per cent, of the imports for the same year. Of the total special commerce, about 83 per cent. is with Belgium; the remainder is with Great Britain, Germany. Holland, and Angola. Nearly 90 per cent, of the special exports con sist of rubber, the remainder being made up of ivory, palm-nuts, palm-oil, timber, coffee, and tobacco. The chief special imports are tissues and clothing, food substances, beverages, ma chinery, and other metal manufactures. There is an import duty of 10 per cent. ad valorem on arms, ammunition, and salt, and of 6 per cent. on all other articles, with the exception of machinery and agricultural implements which were admitted duty free from 1S92 to 1896, and since then have been liable to a duty of 3 per cent. There is an export duty on rubber and several other articles. The trade is chiefly with Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, and Holland. The principal ports are Boma and Banana, which have an annual shipping of over 900,000 tons, over one-half being Belgian. The coasting trade is small.
The central Government of the State is located at Brussels, and is constituted by the King of Belgium and a Secretary of State, the latter being at the head of the departments of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and the Interior. The King's power is not limited by a constitution, but is somewhat circumscribed by the General Act of Berlin of 1885 relative to the organization of tne Congo Free State. The direct administration is in the hands of a Governor-General at Boma, assisted by a Vice-Governor-General. Aecording to the agreement of 1890, between Belgium and the Congo Free State, the former obtained the right of annexing the latter after a period of ten years. In 1901 the question of annexation came up before Parliament, and it was decided to continue the present form of government, re serving the right of annexation to the King alone. The departments of the local government are: Justice, defense, public force, finance, agri culture and industry, transport, marine, and public works, and superintendence of State lands. For administrative purposes, the State is di vided into fourteen districts, administered by commissaries. Civil law is in force wherever the
State's authority reaches. Courts of First In stance have been established, and there is a Court of Appeal at Boma, with a right of fur ther appeal in more important cases to a su perior council at Brussels. There is also a com mission to protect the natives from ill treatment. The army, consisting of natives under Euporean officers and sergeants, numbers nearly 13,000 men. The chief sources of revenue are import and export duties. State domains, Government trans portation lines, and portfolio taxes. The budget balances at present at about $6,000.000, the ex penditure slightly exceeding the revenue. The principal expenditures are for administration, the public domains, and the marine and transport service. The legal money is the same as that of Belgium. The total indebtedness of the State amounts to over $32.000.000, including the 25. 000.000 francs advanced by Belgium in 1890, and the loan of 50,000.000 francs. at 4 per cent., is sued in 1901 for the construction of railways and other public works. The Belgian act of 1901 relinquished the repayment by the Free State of Belgium's advances and the interest thereon, and these obligations are to revive only in case Belgium decides not to annex the country.
The population has been variously estimated at from fourteen million to twice that figure. The inhabitants are mostly of the Bantu race. The Azand6s. a superior native people, are found in the northeastern part, and there are ninny bands of pygmies along the Congo. In 1901 the Euro pean population was 2204, about half of whom were Belgians. Among the numerous 'stations' in the Free State are: Boma, the capital, situ ated on the Congo, about 50 miles from its mouth, and the centre of a large trade; the port of Banana, with an excellent harbor; Ma tadi, a promising railway point at the foot of the Congo Rapids; Ndolo, an important river port; Leopoldville, apparently destined to become the capital of the State; Stanley Pool. Equator ville, Basoko. and Stanley Falls. The religion of the natives is generally of a very low order, consisting largely of a repulsive fetishism, in cluding cannibalism in many districts. Mission ary work, though without financial support from the State, is being actively and successfully car ried on at 76 missions. The instruction is edu cational as well as religious. The State, mainly for military purposes. has provided three agri cultural and technical colonies capable of receiv ing 1500 boys.