Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/319

 from the Raphia vinifera, which they climb with surprising agility by means of a rope attached to the stem and brought round the body, shifting it up or down by a simple movement of the arm. There are no large estates, the land being

regarded as belonging to all in common, or rather to the State for the benefit of all. Hence the actual cultivator enjoys the fruits of his labour, and when he ceases to work, the land reverts to the State, being then at the disposition of the first comer willing to occupy it.