To Lake Albert Edward 
167 
excites his contempt or scorn. It is only the white man who has 
never travelled alone with a large caravan, absolutely dependent 
on his own force of will, that can fail to recognise this fact. 
Is an official to blame who, where driven to desperation by 
the insubordination of the carriers, and fully familiar with the 
punishment laws, breaks senseless injunctions in the full know¬ 
ledge of the irregularity he is committing ? 
As the reader may already be aware, the entire Congo State 
is divided into a number of districts, the largest of which are 
subdivided into zones and secteurs^ the smaller into secteurs 
only. They are governed by Belgian officers, or by officers of 
other nations who have entered the Belgian service, and who are 
employed in the civil administration. The military, again, are 
subordinate to special officials. 
Of the many institutions in connection with the administra- 
• ^ 
tion of the Etat Independant du Congo with which we became 
acquainted, I will make brief mention of the system of taxation 
only ; 
The amount of the poll tax is determined by the Chef de 
secteur. The ordinary rate amounts to one franc in the month, 
or twelve francs per annum. In cases of non-payment, which 
constantly occur, a monthly labour liability of four days (forty 
hours) comes into force. Every worker, however, is compensated 
with twenty-five centimes. Payment is tendered in beads or 
cloth. Coin is unknown. 
The black understands quite well how to clothe himself with 
the stuffs received. The hands employed permanently at any 
station go about chiefly in wide trunk-breeches made of very 
elegant check stuff. A blue jacket is usually worn, and the 
head gear consists of a thick, heavy straw hat with a very broad 
brim and a high crown tapering off towards the top. 
The troops are recruited from all parts of the State, and 
are stationed as far as possible from their homes. They consist 
throughout of powerful men of a good appearance, the best 
types coming from the Uelle territory. The men wear a service¬ 
able uniform, consisting of a short blue, red-piped jacket and 
