Congo Belgian ] PRODUCTS (COCO -NUT, COFFEE, ETC. ) 81 Fibres . -There is an almost unlimited field in the Congo for the cultivation of vegetable fibres in addi tion to cotton . Sanseviera grows wild in many dis tricts . The eastern territories would probably be as suitable for the cultivation of sisal hemp (Agave) as the Tanganyika Territory has proved to be.

Ginger.-- Several species belonging to Zingiberaceae grow wild in the northern Congo forest belt.

Ground -nuts (Arachis ). -- The ‘ monkey-nut ' or 'pea -nut’ of commerce could be grown to any extent in the eastern territories, but the central Congo basin is not a ground -nut country . The oil extracted from the nuts is extensively used for the manufacture of soap . There are endless varieties of oil-bearing edible nuts and seeds, as yet unexploited , in the forest areas of the Congo basin, which could to a large extent take the place of the ground-nut. In general the natives of the Congo basin and most of West Africa derive their oils and fats from the oil -palm ( Elaeis ), while in East Africa, much of which is comparatively dry and open country, the oil-palm is not found , and the ground-nut is the chief source of oil.

Kapok . — This is the pappus or hair surrounding the seed of a species of Eriodendron , one of the biggest trees in Africa. It is used in upholstery and life-belt making. This could be cultivated by the natives to almost any extent .

Kola .-- The kola - nut is scarcely met with in the Congo in a cultivated state, nor are its value and uses known as in Nigeria. It grows wild in the Ituri forest, and its cultivation could be carried on as a native industry.

Piassava . — The fibre from which “ bass ' brooms are made. It is obtained from the leaf-stem of the Raphia palm.

Raphia fibre. — The ‘ raffia ' or ' bast ’ of commerce is > G