In the following pages an attempt will be made to give a survey of those languages in the Congo basin which are most important and of special value for educational and literary work.

As I left the Congo several years ago I have communicated with the Roman Catholic and Protestant missions working there with regard to this subject and I am very grateful for all the replies received.

We cannot yet master the facts. The difficulties are many. Several of the important languages are not yet known. The policy of the French, Belgian, and Portuguese governments is at present very divergent in regard to languages and educational and literary work.