| Coat of Arms Belgian Congo 1908-1960 |
| This photo was taken on a boat. 1. What country was it taking in? 2. What river was the boat probably traveling on? Bonus: What does the man in the coat do for a living? |
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| 1. Zaire, now called The Congo 2. The Congo River Note the writing on the sack the woman is carrying |
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| Click here to see results of 5th occasional photoquiz survey. |
| Answers to Quiz #199 - March 1, 2009 |
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| If you enjoy our quizzes, don't forget to order our books! Click here. |
| Quiz #199 Results |
| Visit our blog at www.forensicgenealogy.info/blog. |
| This quiz was suggested by Andrew Yeiser. (Yes, that Andrew Yeiser.) |
| Comments from Our Readers |
You know, I got a little distracted and saw the water hoses on the deck. Thought the
guy might have been one of those Somali Pirates. I discounted that when I did see men
and women on the deck and none seemed threatened. The guy seemed to be carrying a
bag with a couple of boxes in them. I was looking for a gun.
Don't know what was in that basket.
Anyone who knows your puzzles knows that you should always be aware of signage or
as in this case a stenciled bag. Jim Kiser
*****
Wow!!! What have you done to us now??? I really want to turn that sack around and
read it. This may be the hardest one for me yet. I keep telling myself I relish a challenge.
The ferret in me wants to solve the whole thing, people names, ship name, destination,
etc. Why is the person laying on the floor on the right? I could go on and on. Once I
focus, I really go for something. Again, thanks for the time that you put into this. I
have learned about so many side issues, both by looking up the right information and by
going off on a tangent in a radically wrong direction. Gina Ortega
*****
You've got me on the coat question, but I sure did learn a lot about African costumes.
Mary Osmar
*****
Bonus: I think he is a "white-collar" worker. LOL. Hahaha... Bad joke, right?
Karen Kay Bunting
*****
I have spent a lot of time looking for an answer to this bonus to no avail. I am going to
guess Ferry Boss or Celebrity or Doctor or Fur Trader (like a poacher). I cannot come
up with anything conclusive to narrow it down.
Your extra clues would suggest the man in the fur coat is a performing juggler -
perhaps a busker who makes a little extra cash with the ship's deck as his stage. If this
is true hopefully Andy gave him a tip. I don't think of cities such as Matadi, Boma or
Kinshasa as being venues for buskering but I haven't had any real experience there. I
look forward to reading Andy's descriptions of his journey and where on the river this
very interesting photo was taken. The idea of giving the man money is rather intriguing.
I tried to find up-to-date information on currency used in Zaire. The "nouveau zaire"
had been introduced and I think was replaced by the Congolese franc. They have
suffered massive devaluations. I suspect the US dollar would be huge to the man.
Thanks again, for the learning experience. Don Draper
*****
Oh well. I should have submitted an answer... but after all I have a big box on my
fridge that says "Thailand." ^_^ Carolyn [Cornelius, my sister] was working on juggler.
I was working on customs officer with a fur collar. Rex Cornelius
*****
I’m just throwing this against the wall and hope it sticks. I could not find any photos
for the above; however, I did try to find out as much as I could about Andrew Yeiser.
His bio said he was an engineering consultant with the United Nations and a world
traveler. He spent time in Kinshasa, Zaire. Jocelyn Thayer
*****
This one is a stumper for me! ;) How am I going to find weird and obscure websites
for you with facts when I can't figure it out?! :)
I tried searching on Andy and thought the pix may be from Kinshasa where I think he
was (and this Andy on your site/pix contributor is the love of your life, correct?!) :)
Ok - at least tell us this (as now hubby is involved....) are the "green thingys" edible??
Mangos, papayas, passion fruit, avocados, what???! Are 3 of these things payment for
some thing, passage across to the other big city from Kinshasa, etc.? They look like
something edible, but if not, that changes the whole game.
I did see the other one in the basket and have enlarged the image a few times, but hard
to see what they are. Is the coat important? As is why is he wearing what seems to be
a winter-type coat with a fur collar as it seems hot there, or is that (sadly) all he had to
wear? The white things in the wire basket just look to be small white bags, and we
saw the boy to the left seemed to have the same thing hanging from his waistband?
The guy in the coat also seems to be holding the same pattern of fabric in his hand that
the woman has on her skirt.
Zaire, Congo, Ebola, malaria, three, fruit, Kinshasa, boat, coat, the search goes on and
on..... :) Is "killing myself" a hint, like the green thingys can kill me? But this is great -
hard is more fun! :) Beth Long
guy might have been one of those Somali Pirates. I discounted that when I did see men
and women on the deck and none seemed threatened. The guy seemed to be carrying a
bag with a couple of boxes in them. I was looking for a gun.
Don't know what was in that basket.
Anyone who knows your puzzles knows that you should always be aware of signage or
as in this case a stenciled bag. Jim Kiser
*****
Wow!!! What have you done to us now??? I really want to turn that sack around and
read it. This may be the hardest one for me yet. I keep telling myself I relish a challenge.
The ferret in me wants to solve the whole thing, people names, ship name, destination,
etc. Why is the person laying on the floor on the right? I could go on and on. Once I
focus, I really go for something. Again, thanks for the time that you put into this. I
have learned about so many side issues, both by looking up the right information and by
going off on a tangent in a radically wrong direction. Gina Ortega
*****
You've got me on the coat question, but I sure did learn a lot about African costumes.
Mary Osmar
*****
Bonus: I think he is a "white-collar" worker. LOL. Hahaha... Bad joke, right?
Karen Kay Bunting
*****
I have spent a lot of time looking for an answer to this bonus to no avail. I am going to
guess Ferry Boss or Celebrity or Doctor or Fur Trader (like a poacher). I cannot come
up with anything conclusive to narrow it down.
Your extra clues would suggest the man in the fur coat is a performing juggler -
perhaps a busker who makes a little extra cash with the ship's deck as his stage. If this
is true hopefully Andy gave him a tip. I don't think of cities such as Matadi, Boma or
Kinshasa as being venues for buskering but I haven't had any real experience there. I
look forward to reading Andy's descriptions of his journey and where on the river this
very interesting photo was taken. The idea of giving the man money is rather intriguing.
I tried to find up-to-date information on currency used in Zaire. The "nouveau zaire"
had been introduced and I think was replaced by the Congolese franc. They have
suffered massive devaluations. I suspect the US dollar would be huge to the man.
Thanks again, for the learning experience. Don Draper
*****
Oh well. I should have submitted an answer... but after all I have a big box on my
fridge that says "Thailand." ^_^ Carolyn [Cornelius, my sister] was working on juggler.
I was working on customs officer with a fur collar. Rex Cornelius
*****
I’m just throwing this against the wall and hope it sticks. I could not find any photos
for the above; however, I did try to find out as much as I could about Andrew Yeiser.
His bio said he was an engineering consultant with the United Nations and a world
traveler. He spent time in Kinshasa, Zaire. Jocelyn Thayer
*****
This one is a stumper for me! ;) How am I going to find weird and obscure websites
for you with facts when I can't figure it out?! :)
I tried searching on Andy and thought the pix may be from Kinshasa where I think he
was (and this Andy on your site/pix contributor is the love of your life, correct?!) :)
Ok - at least tell us this (as now hubby is involved....) are the "green thingys" edible??
Mangos, papayas, passion fruit, avocados, what???! Are 3 of these things payment for
some thing, passage across to the other big city from Kinshasa, etc.? They look like
something edible, but if not, that changes the whole game.
I did see the other one in the basket and have enlarged the image a few times, but hard
to see what they are. Is the coat important? As is why is he wearing what seems to be
a winter-type coat with a fur collar as it seems hot there, or is that (sadly) all he had to
wear? The white things in the wire basket just look to be small white bags, and we
saw the boy to the left seemed to have the same thing hanging from his waistband?
The guy in the coat also seems to be holding the same pattern of fabric in his hand that
the woman has on her skirt.
Zaire, Congo, Ebola, malaria, three, fruit, Kinshasa, boat, coat, the search goes on and
on..... :) Is "killing myself" a hint, like the green thingys can kill me? But this is great -
hard is more fun! :) Beth Long
| Congratulations to Our Winners! Jina Yi, Mr. Rick's Quiz Angel Jim Kiser Gina Ortega Betty Chambers Bill Hurley Brian Kemp Jim Colvin Douglas G. Smith Mike Swierczewski Stan Read Beth Long Mary Osmar Mike Dalton Tamura Jones Joe McCabe Carolyn Cornelius Jocelyn Thayer Karen Kay Bunting Diane Burkett Don Draper Beth Long |
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| THIS SHIP HAS SAILED AWAY I generally answer these weekly quizzes, Within less than an hour when pressed, But I have spent too much time on the current one, That has left me most depressed. None of the many clues that I see, Has led me to solve the quest, Just too much to assume, I think, So I will wait for next weeks' test.. Robert Edward McKenna, QPL |
| Bonus: He is a juggler. He is holding three balls in his hand. There is a fourth in the basket in front of him. The coat is probably part of his costume. The scooter in the background might be part of his act, too. The coat is his costume. |
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| Note from the Quizmaster General |
This puzzle stumped even some of our top Quizmasters! Yet it was not that difficult.
The lesson here is that one of the most valuable features of a photograph is any writing
that may appear. In this case, the only writing in the picture is found on the sack the
woman is holding. It reads "Zaire". Even Quizmasters with lower resolution monitors
reported they could read it.
The second important lesson you can derive from this photo is that we don't always
use photos we find on the internet. Often we feature photographs from our personal
collection or from the collections of our Quizmasters. There were several people who
surfed in, frustrated that they couldn't find the photograph online. Well there was a
reason. It isn't online. Well that's not exactly right. It is online now as this week's
quiz. The picture was taken by Andrew Yeiser during his trip down the Congo River.
(Please note that researching Andrew Yeiser was usually not very useful, although we
had reports that it helped.)
The lesson here is that one of the most valuable features of a photograph is any writing
that may appear. In this case, the only writing in the picture is found on the sack the
woman is holding. It reads "Zaire". Even Quizmasters with lower resolution monitors
reported they could read it.
The second important lesson you can derive from this photo is that we don't always
use photos we find on the internet. Often we feature photographs from our personal
collection or from the collections of our Quizmasters. There were several people who
surfed in, frustrated that they couldn't find the photograph online. Well there was a
reason. It isn't online. Well that's not exactly right. It is online now as this week's
quiz. The picture was taken by Andrew Yeiser during his trip down the Congo River.
(Please note that researching Andrew Yeiser was usually not very useful, although we
had reports that it helped.)
| ********** |
| Was - Zaire Is - The Democratic Republic of the Congo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaire |
and ruined his health: he had also opened the heart of tropical Africa
up to the outside world. This was to be his most enduring legacy.
It is at this point that King Leopold of Belgium took a part. As a
constitutional monarch, Leopold was charged with the usual
constitutional duties of opening parliaments, greeting diplomats, and
attending state funerals. He had no power to decide policy. But for
over 20 years he had been agitating for Belgium to take its place
among the great colonial powers of Europe. Leopold noted, "Our
frontiers can never be extended into Europe." However, he added,
"since history teaches that colonies are useful, that they play a great
part in that which makes up the power and prosperity of states, let
up to the outside world. This was to be his most enduring legacy.
It is at this point that King Leopold of Belgium took a part. As a
constitutional monarch, Leopold was charged with the usual
constitutional duties of opening parliaments, greeting diplomats, and
attending state funerals. He had no power to decide policy. But for
over 20 years he had been agitating for Belgium to take its place
among the great colonial powers of Europe. Leopold noted, "Our
frontiers can never be extended into Europe." However, he added,
"since history teaches that colonies are useful, that they play a great
part in that which makes up the power and prosperity of states, let
| Quick Facts about The Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) |
| National Anthem of Zaire |
| Zaïrois dans la paix retrouvée, Peuple uni, nous sommes Zaïrois En avant fier et plein de dignité Peuple grand, peuple libre à jamais Tricolore, enflamme nous du feu sacré Pour bâtir notre pays toujours plus beau Autour d'un fleuve Majesté (2×) Tricolore au vent, ravive l'idéal Qui nous relie aux aïeux, à nos enfants Paix, justice et travail. (2×) ***** English translation: Zairians, living in rediscovered peace, United people, we are Zairians; Let us go forward, proud and dignified. A great people, a people forever free. Tricolored flag, light in us the sacred flame, To build our country with more beauty than before, Around the majestic river; Around the majestic river. Tricolored flag in the wind, revive the ideal, Which links us to our ancestors and our children, Peace, justice, and work; Peace, justice, and work. ***** La Zaïroise by Joseph Lutumba (lyrics) and Simon-Pierre Boka Di Mpasi Londi (music) was the national anthem of Zaïre from 1972 to 1997. |
| Important Figures in Congolese History |
Early history Migration & states Colonization Stanley (1867–1885) Congo Free State Leopold II (1885–1908) Belgian Congo (1908–1960) Congo Crisis First Republic (1960–1965) Zaire Mobutu regime (1965–1996) Shaba I (1977) Shaba II (1978) First Congo War Kabila's rise (1996–1998) Second Congo War Africa's Great War (1998–2003) 2000s (2000s) |
| Read More about the History of The Dem Republic of the Congo |
Early History
Early Congo history covers most of the Congo River basin
occupied today by the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
the Republic of the Congo, Angola's Cabinda province and
northern Angola. 'Congo' and 'Congolese' refer to this area.
Early Congo history covers most of the Congo River basin
occupied today by the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
the Republic of the Congo, Angola's Cabinda province and
northern Angola. 'Congo' and 'Congolese' refer to this area.
Early Congo history began with waves of Bantu migrations from 2000 BC to 500 AD
moving into the basin from the northwest and covers the precolonial states absorbed or
overthrown by the colonial powers. The Bantu migrations added to and displaced the
indigenous Pygmy populations into the southern regions of the modern Congo states.
The Bantu imported agriculture and iron-working techniques from West Africa into the
area, as well as establishing the Bantu language family as the primary set of tongues for
the Congolese.
Subsequent migrations from the Darfur and Kordofan regions of Sudan into the north
of Congo, as well as East Africans migrating into the eastern Congo, added to the mix
of ethnic groups.
moving into the basin from the northwest and covers the precolonial states absorbed or
overthrown by the colonial powers. The Bantu migrations added to and displaced the
indigenous Pygmy populations into the southern regions of the modern Congo states.
The Bantu imported agriculture and iron-working techniques from West Africa into the
area, as well as establishing the Bantu language family as the primary set of tongues for
the Congolese.
Subsequent migrations from the Darfur and Kordofan regions of Sudan into the north
of Congo, as well as East Africans migrating into the eastern Congo, added to the mix
of ethnic groups.
| Léopoldville became Kinshasa Stanleyville became Kisangani Elisabethville became Lubumbashi Jadotville became Likasi Albertville became Kalemie |
Colonization
The Congo River was the last part of the African
continent to yield to European explorers. One by
one the other great mysteries had been
investigated: the coasts by Prince Henry the
Navigator's Portuguese sailors in the 15th
century; the Blue Nile by James Bruce in 1773;
the remote upper Niger by Mungo Park in 1796;
the vast Sahara by competitors Laing, Callié, and
Clapperton in the 1820s; the fever-ridden
mangroves of the lower Niger by the Lander
Brothers in 1830; southern Africa and the
Zambezi by Livingstone and John Clafton in the
1850s; the upper Nile by Burton, Speke, and
Baker in a succession of expeditions between
1857 and 1868. Though the Congo had been one
of the first to be attempted, it remained a
mystery.
Since the 15th century, European explorers had
sailed into the broad Congo estuary, planning to
fight their way up the falls and rapids that begin
only 100 miles (160 km) inland, and then travel
up the river to its unknown source. All failed.
The rapids and falls, had they known it,
extended for 220 miles (350 km) inland, and the
terrain close by the river was impassable, and
remains so to this day. Repeated attempts to
travel overland were repulsed with heavy
casualties. Accidents, conflicts with natives, and
above all disease saw large and well-equipped
expeditions got no further than 40 miles (60 km)
or so past the western-most rapid, the legendary
Cauldron of Hell.
Stanley's Exploration
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The Congo Free StateIt was not until 1867 that the Congo was explored by Europeans,
and even then it was not from the sea, but from the other side of the African continent.
Setting out from Zanzibar, U.S. journalist Henry Morton Stanley, a British-born
American journalist and explorer aimed to find the famous Dr. Livingstone. Livingstone
had not been heard of in several years and was, in fact, exploring the upper reaches of
a great navigable inland river called the Lualaba, which Livingstone hoped was
connected to the Nile, but which turned out to be the upper Congo.
After leaving Livingstone, Stanley sailed for 1000 miles (1600 km) down the Lualaba
(Upper Congo) to the large lake he named Stanley Pool (now called Pool Malebo).
Then, rather than perish in the impenetrable country of the cascades, Stanley took a
wide detour overland to come within striking distance of the Portuguese trading station
at Boma on the Congo estuary.
When Stanley returned to Europe in 1878, he had not only found Dr. Livingstone (an
event remembered to this day), resolved the last great mystery of African exploration,
and even then it was not from the sea, but from the other side of the African continent.
Setting out from Zanzibar, U.S. journalist Henry Morton Stanley, a British-born
American journalist and explorer aimed to find the famous Dr. Livingstone. Livingstone
had not been heard of in several years and was, in fact, exploring the upper reaches of
a great navigable inland river called the Lualaba, which Livingstone hoped was
connected to the Nile, but which turned out to be the upper Congo.
After leaving Livingstone, Stanley sailed for 1000 miles (1600 km) down the Lualaba
(Upper Congo) to the large lake he named Stanley Pool (now called Pool Malebo).
Then, rather than perish in the impenetrable country of the cascades, Stanley took a
wide detour overland to come within striking distance of the Portuguese trading station
at Boma on the Congo estuary.
When Stanley returned to Europe in 1878, he had not only found Dr. Livingstone (an
event remembered to this day), resolved the last great mystery of African exploration,
us strive to get one in our turn."
At various times, he launched unsuccessful schemes to buy an Argentine province, to
buy Borneo from the Dutch, rent the Philippines from Spain, or establish colonies in
China, Vietnam, Japan, or the Pacific islands. When the 1860s explorers focused
attention on Africa, Leopold schemed to colonise Mozambique on the east coast,
Senegal on the west coast, and the Congo in the centre. None of these schemes came
anywhere near fruition: the government of Belgium resolutely resisted all Leopold's
suggestions, seeing the acquisition of a colony as a good way to spend large amounts
of money for little or no return.
Leopold's eventual response was extraordinary in its hubris and simplicity. If the
At various times, he launched unsuccessful schemes to buy an Argentine province, to
buy Borneo from the Dutch, rent the Philippines from Spain, or establish colonies in
China, Vietnam, Japan, or the Pacific islands. When the 1860s explorers focused
attention on Africa, Leopold schemed to colonise Mozambique on the east coast,
Senegal on the west coast, and the Congo in the centre. None of these schemes came
anywhere near fruition: the government of Belgium resolutely resisted all Leopold's
suggestions, seeing the acquisition of a colony as a good way to spend large amounts
of money for little or no return.
Leopold's eventual response was extraordinary in its hubris and simplicity. If the
government of Belgium would not take a colony, then he would
simply do it himself, acting in his private capacity as an ordinary
citizen.
In 1876 Leopold II sponsored an international geographical
conference in Brussels, inviting delegates from scientific societies
all over Europe to discuss philanthropic and scientific matters
such as the best way to coordinate map making, to prevent the
re-emergence of the west coast slave trade, and to investigate
ways of sending medical aid to Africa. The conference was a
sham: at its close, Leopold proposed that they set up an
international
simply do it himself, acting in his private capacity as an ordinary
citizen.
In 1876 Leopold II sponsored an international geographical
conference in Brussels, inviting delegates from scientific societies
all over Europe to discuss philanthropic and scientific matters
such as the best way to coordinate map making, to prevent the
re-emergence of the west coast slave trade, and to investigate
ways of sending medical aid to Africa. The conference was a
sham: at its close, Leopold proposed that they set up an
international
| Leopold of Belgium |
benevolent committee to carry on, and modestly agreed to accept the chairman's role.
For the look of things, he held one more meeting the following year, but from that time
on, the Association Internationale Africaine was simply a front for Leopold's ambition.
He created a baffling series of subsidiary shell organisations, culminating in the
cunningly named Association Internationale du Congo, which had a single shareholder:
Leopold himself.
*****
The history of the Congo is very complex, thanks to the political upheavals and civil
wars the country has suffered through its modern history. Read more about Congolese
history from Leopold's foothold in the Belgian Congo thanks to Stanley's unsuspecting
efforts through the recent history of the Congolese Wars by clicking on any of the links
above.
For the look of things, he held one more meeting the following year, but from that time
on, the Association Internationale Africaine was simply a front for Leopold's ambition.
He created a baffling series of subsidiary shell organisations, culminating in the
cunningly named Association Internationale du Congo, which had a single shareholder:
Leopold himself.
*****
The history of the Congo is very complex, thanks to the political upheavals and civil
wars the country has suffered through its modern history. Read more about Congolese
history from Leopold's foothold in the Belgian Congo thanks to Stanley's unsuspecting
efforts through the recent history of the Congolese Wars by clicking on any of the links
above.
| ********** |
| Congo Kinshasa 1963-1966 |
| Zaire 1971-1997 |
| Congo Kinshasa 1997-2006 |
| Dem Rep of the Congo 2006-Present |
| South Kasai Stamps Created from altered Belgian Congo Stamps 1960 |
| Coat of Arms of Zaire 1965-1997 |
| Lesser Coat of Arms Belgian Congo 1908-1960 |
| Location of the Dem Rep of the Congo in Central Africa |
| Modern Names for DRC Cities |