The sun., 1896-09-28
WHERE SHAM MONEY GOES.
SOME OF TIE STA NDARDs OF TABUN
IN THE CONGO REGION.

Brass Rods, Pieces OF Cotton Cloth, nehdsv
Red Randnnnn Han dk erehiefs, OLD Mntrs
Run, Old FIint-ioek Muskets. Knivest
and Coiored Pnrnsois Pass for Curreney9
WARRINGTON. Sept. 27.-In an elaborate rec
port on the Congo Free State made to the state
Department. Consul Dorsey Mohun. who trAv-
elled for two years with the Belgian forces
through the interior of that country, gives
many interesting accounts Of the methods OK
trading used by the natives. Where moneyn
not the medium of exchange, brass rods OF DIFF
ferent lengths are used as standards Of value In
some districts, and In others pieces OF cotton
cloth. squares of woven palm fibre, and beads
pass for currency.
Consul Mohuns opportunities for studying
this almost unknown country were exceptions
ally good. and his report which will soon Be
published by tho State Department, will give
clearer knowledge Of the commercial possibili1
ties Of the vast Congo region than perhaps can
be obtained from tho chronicles of any other
traveller in the great African valley. The firsV
market described 10 that at Leopoldville. on the
lower river. where twice . week three or fouI
thousand natives bring their products TO exS
change for Runpowder and check cd cloth. the
only money in use being brass rods on
"mitako." which arc out in lengths eight
inches long. At Bananapoint the articles
used for trade with the natives are red bandanne
handkerchief, cloth, beads, machetes, old silh
hats. colored parasols, cheap knives, fint-lock
muskets, powder, brass rods, orockery ware. tine
ware, old uniform coats, old derby hats.
rum. cheap watches, and cologne: All these
standard "f Of vstas Z ,0p psoS sns Of % @
twenty -four feet long and three feet broad and
produce he gives out cards to the nativss. which
are good each for one piece Of handkerchief.
natives come in to the fetch or store ana hand
in their cards. when they can select what they
Will not touch money, regarding 1t az useless,
and this of course, lie great advantage to the
srSdsE whG makes large profits In fo
At Lake tf. Leopold @ H the % medsn '' Of escsan 60
small cowrie-checked cotton cloth and stripe,
brass rods IN small quantities, large and small
Central Africa as "Merikani." also goes we'll
currency, the rods being Uniformly "a inches
long. One stone flint for a fint-lo musket 10
pos
the progress of the Arabs westward, and 10 Q
DEPOT, depot OF % thrifty. indius5riogs, and populous
small egg cup full Of blue glass beads little
larger lars than IN pin heads, viii purchase food for
Coffee and cotton grow Wild. and natives own
The Of these people %ates
savages. Mr.. Mohun says that W hile the Congo
native is satisfied with strip of dirty cloth Q
foot Wide covering him IN front and behind,
with the ends tucked in string round the
waist the Arab boy will sew all his cloth TO.
gether which he receives In pay and drape the
whole thing over himself. He eaw one man
wearing at least 200 yards Of such cloth and it
was always kept clean.
AT Kassongo. where a great market IN held
three times week, the money is "madiba," o
square of woven palm fiber, and with eix of
these man can get food enough to last him al
week. These madibas are patched into garm ents
ard worn until needed as money. Madibas and
iron hoes constitute the money at Nangive,
which Is the African salt centre. Hero salt II.
also used to purchase everything, and 10 practi
cally the standard OF value. a
Ivory does not appear to be used in paymen.1
OF dues and taxes anywhere In the State, probfh 81
for brass rods and madibas. which circuiaI 4
freely. Only in exceptional instances will nrnf
foreign coin be received in payment for article
tho natives being suspicious OF 1t. Gold and 81 J.
yer are altogether unknown and cannot ! u
forced upon the savaRes. ]
The Congo State is said to be bankrupt h
expenditures more than doubling its receirl X,
from domestic revenues the advances from.
up the deficit