Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/613

 its mangoes, of which it exports nearly thirty tons yearly. The inland districts of Kakondo and Ngoyo are little known, Schwerin being the only traveller who has visited this region in recent times. Yet it is a, highly productive country, dotted over with several large villages, or rather towns, such as Tehim Bwanda, called the "Timbuktu" of Ngoyo; Kakongo-Songo, residence of a "king;" N'Lelle, noted for its earthenware, and Tchoa, surrounded by boundless fields of haricots.

The Congo Government was till lately known to the natives by the name of Bula Matadi, or "Rock-breaker," the term applied originally by them to Stanley for the indomitable energy with which he cleared away all obstacles along his route down the Congo. The expression was afterwards transferred to Stanley's successors, the officials of the Free State, and lastly to the whole kingdom itself.

Although the King of the Belgians has been elected its sovereign, it has no special or exclusive relation to Belgium, the union between the two crowns being purely personal. Nevertheless, after having been almost English under the direction of Stanley, it is gradually becoming a Belgian dependency. The three general administrators of the finances, the interior, and foreign affairs, are natives of Belgium, as are also most of the other civil and military officials. The companies founded to open up the resources of the land have their headquarters in Brussels; its financial affairs are discussed in the Belgian Parliament, and in the convention with France its annexation to Belgium is expressly anticipated Even the Roman Catholic