Phillips.] 



474 



[Nov. 2, 1838, and 



At present La Congregation de Scheiitveld, that lias attained a remark- 

 able success in Asia, has taken the evangelization of the Congo under its 

 charge, and the Holy Father, in a late brief by which a vicariat was 

 created, has confided to them the noble project. A mission has been es- 

 tablished at the junction of the Kassai and the Congo, where schools 

 liave been established, not only for spiritual and scientific instruction, but 

 also where the knowledge of manual labor of all kinds is imparted. 



Flourishing Roman Catholic missions exist at Banana and at Boma ; 

 the Protestants are along the river as far as the Station of the Equator ; 

 some religious establishments of the Feres d' Alger are on the west bank 

 of Lake Tanganyika. 



On December 31, 1888, a society was founded under the title of 

 " L' Association Congolaise et Africaine de la Croix Rouge," whose ob- 

 ject was to render service to the sick and wounded in time of waj-, and at 

 all times to give aid and assistance throughout the extent of Africa to all 

 who, in the interests of civilization in Africa, have become ill or injured, 

 as well as to those of the natives who might be suffering. The Society 

 will be represented in the Congo by the Governor-General. 



FINANCES. 

 The monetary system is based upon a gold standard. The currency 



5 Centimes. 



1 Centime. 



consists of francs and centimes; the franc representing the 3100th part 

 of a kilogramme of gold nine-tenths {j%) fine. 



