Page 27 - SST Class 05

small bows and poisoned arrows, and hunt in groups. They hunt antelopes, birds,
elephants and buffaloes in no time. They also gather fruits, berries, mushrooms and
nuts. They live in small huts.

Due to hot and humid climate, people of Congo wear light, cotton clothes. The Pygmies
wear few clothes, while the Bantus like to wear full-length garments. The main food
crops are cassava, maize, rice, millets and vegetables. Fish and meat are also relished.

Christianity is the main religion in Congo. Other religions include Islam and other
local African faiths. Most people are fond of music and dance. They celebrate festivals
and ceremonies in groups in colourful costumes.

The popular games played in Congo include football, basketball and rugby.

Main Occupations

The important occupations in Congo are farming, fishing, mining, animal husbandry
and lumbering.

Farming : Farming is an important occupation in Congo. The important food crops
grown here include maize, rice, cassava, millets and vegetables. Cassava is a type of
root and is ground into flour. It is the staple diet of people here. Banana is relished by
all people, young and old. Shifting

cultivation is generally practised
in Congo. In it, a forest land is
cleared and farmed for 4-5 years,
and then abandoned to allow the
forest to grow on it. Meanwhile,
another tract of land is cleared for
this purpose. This has led to
deforestation. Cassava A copper mine in Congo

Industry : The plateau region, which is located to the south, is rich in minerals, such as
cobalt, manganese, tin, copper, gold, silver and diamond. However, there are few
industries here, so minerals are mainly exported. A large part of Congo population

City of Kinshasa Seaport at Matadi A carved wooden statue from Congo

Congo : The Land of Forests 27