56 [ 10.99 PRESENT CONDITIONS which subsequent legislation has further strengthened. The commission consists of ten members with the Procurator-General of the Court of Appeal at Boma as president ; it must meet once a year at least ; the expenses of its members are paid, and they take an active interest in their duties, which are advisory in character. An annual report suggesting measures for the benefit of the natives must be sent to the King, and published. The Governor-General is also required by the Charter to give special care to the advancement of native interests, especially in regard to liberty, the repression of polygamy, and the development of private property ; but so far no attempt has been made to recognize individual property in land, all natives being deemed to hold collectively ; 2 while polygamy 3 and domestic slavery are institutions which are at the basis of native society, though they are discouraged in a minor degree by the imposition of an additional tax of 2 frs . for each extra wife. More effective and useful is the duty thrown upon the officers of the ministère public to safeguard the rights of the natives, especially as regards contracts of service, and the power given to them to take civil action in the name of a native who has suffered wrong.

3 (3) MILITARY ORGANIZATION The Charter forbids the compulsory employment of any Belgian in the Congo forces, and the colonial charter forbids even voluntary enlistment of serving soldiers. The Congo force publique, which performs police and military duties, and had a nominal strength of 17,800 men in 1913 , is recruited in part voluntarily, in part by compulsion, the annual contingent before a 1 Cd . 6802 , pp . 39-41 ; 6606 , p . 38 . 2 Lannoy, pp . 140-42 . 3 For a criticism of it see Weeks, Among Congo Cannibals, pp. 134-39 .