The Times of Monday published two items of intelligence from
the Congo Free State which are of some interest. One is, that the Belgian officials have determined to import Chinese coolies, and thus give themselves a command of labourers who will not be paralysed by the climate. That is an interesting experiment; but one wonders if the Belgian authorities are aware that Chinamen and Negroes have the most curious and inveterate antipathy to each other, frequently manifested in our own West Indies and Guiana ; that the Chinese are never content with low wages, actually com mitting suicide in the guano islands to avoid them ; and that they are, when irritated, the most formidable mutineers in the world, forming secret societies which can be kept in order only by cannon. The other item is that M. Van den Kirckhoven, with a force of Congo men, has forced his way to Lado, near Wadelai, has attracted the attention of the Khalifa, or Mandi, and is immediately to be attacked by that potentate's agents. It is probable that be may be destroyed ; and the question arises whether the King of the Belgians is acting in secret concert with Great Britain or not. If he is not, it is no busi- ness of ours, provided M. Van den Kirckhoven retires, for the territory is British under the Berlin Convention; but if he is,. Sir Gerald Portal may be obliged to send a force to his• assistance. Our own belief is that there is no agreement, and that the Belgian authorities, greatly straitened for money, are hunting up Emin Pasha's enormous concealed store of ivory.
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