Feb. 1, 1889.] 4-b9 [Phillips. 



Cuttings and slips from Madeira vines have been planted with great 

 promise. 



Maize, coffee, sesame, orchal and sorghum grow plentifully. 



The inhabitants are willing to work, and both male and female are to 

 be seen in the fields. 



Animals. 



Elephants are seldom seen unless a famine drives them towards lower 

 feeding grounds. They are, however, sometimes found. Ivory is an im- 

 portant product exported to the London market. The buffalo, leopard, 

 antelope, wild cat, wild boar, goat and dog abound. The hippopotamus 

 and rhinoceros multiply in the Congo and its affluents ; myriads of apes 

 people the forests. The eagle, the hawk and the vulture are the chief 

 birds of prey, and the duck, goose, pigeon, chicken, the turtle dove, the 

 bengalee, the gralloe, the cardinal, green parrakeet and gray parrakeet 

 with red tail, and kingfisher are found plentifully. 



Snakes of the python variety exist in vast numbers. 



Cattle. 



Fine herds of cattle are grazing on the Island of Matebba, situated half 

 waj' between Ponta da Lenha and Boma, where M. de Roubaix of Ant- 

 werp has an important farming enterprise. Several hundreds of heads of 

 cattle are kept also by the State at Boma for the consumption of its numer- 

 ous '•' personnel." Private commercial houses, as Mess. Valle y Azevado, 

 possess large quantities of live stock. 



In 1888 commercial value of goods handled at the Congo Independent 

 State was 14,000,000 francs, of which 7,500,000 was exports. 



ARTICLES OF IMPORTATION. 



In exchange for ivory, palm nuts, palm oil, arachides, caout-chouc, 

 dye-woods, copal, etc., brought by caravans to the various factories, the 

 natives receive flintlock and percussion guns, flints, powder, cotton goods, 

 rum, pearls, copper rings, table and pocket knives, old clothes, straw and 

 felt hats, cotton and flannel shirts, glass and pottery ware, umbrellas, 

 wooden and iron coffers, locks, chains, tin forks, tin cups, big and little 

 bells, razors, scissors, combs, perfumery, soaps, mirrors, needles, pins and 

 thread, buttons, white ribbands, gardening tools, matches, clay pipes, 

 bracelets, ear and finger rings, copper bands for arms and legs, musical 

 boxes and accordeons, etc., etc. 



COMMUNICATION WITH EUROPE. 



1. A monthly line from Liverpool (The African Steam Navigation Co.), 

 taking about forty to fifty days ; lare, 700 to 800 francs. 



2. The Woerman Line, from Hamburg, at the end of every month. 

 Time, fortj'-flve to fifty days ; fare, 750 francs. 



