Final answer:
In the Congo Free State, Africans who failed to meet the rubber collection quota were punished by having their hands cut off. This brutal practice was carried out by the Force Publique, an Indigenous army commanded by European officers, to maintain control and ensure compliance.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Congo Free State, Africans were punished for not delivering enough rubber to meet the quota by having their hands cut off. The Force Publique, an Indigenous army commanded by European officers, would kill those who resisted or tried to run away and then cut off a hand from each victim to maintain a tally of the dead.
This brutal and violent punishment was meant to instill fear and ensure compliance among the African workers. It was a horrific and inhumane practice that caused immense suffering and loss of life.