So in the year 1908, after long debates and much curious bargaining between the King and his people, the Congo State became a Belgian colony. It remains to be seen whether they can govern it wisely, for as yet they have no experience in such matters. Few Belgians like to speak about the Congo. They shake their heads, and say it will cost a great deal of money, and bring danger to their country.
The scene when a ship sails from Antwerp for the Congo is unlike anything you will see at home. When a ship leaves an English port for India or the Colonies, the travellers go on board without any fuss, with perhaps a few private friends to see them off. But when a liner starts for the Congo, there is much excitement. A crowd assembles; flags fly; a band plays the Belgian National Anthem; hawkers go about selling photographs of le départ pour le Congo; and a steam-tug, decorated with flags, and with a band of music playing, accompanies the liner some distance down the Scheldt. The Belgians, you see, are so fond of hoisting flags and hearing bands of music on every possible occasion that they can't help doing it even when there is really nothing to get excited about.
And now, having taken this peep at Belgium, we shall leave these adventurers sailing away to their Congo, and, hoping they will find wisdom to steer wisely (in more ways than one) and so avoid shipwreck, wish them bon voyage.
LIST OF VOLUMES IN THE PEEPS AT MANY LANDS SERIES
EACH CONTAINING 12 FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR
| BELGIUM | INDIA |
| BURMA | IRELAND |
| CANADA | ITALY |
| CHINA | JAMAICA |
| CORSICA | JAPAN |
| EGYPT | MOROCCO |
| ENGLAND | NEW ZEALAND |
| FINLAND | NORWAY |
| FRANCE | SCOTLAND |
| GERMANY | SIAM |
| GREECE | SOUTH AFRICA |
| HOLLAND | SOUTH SEAS |
| HOLY LAND | SWITZERLAND |
| ICELAND | WALES |