PLANTATION RUBBER INDUSTRY OF THE EAST. 4J57 



Even if such an assertion was found to be true, it would probably 

 make little difference, as tapping will have to be carried on when 

 circumstances are most favourable. 



The descriptions of the collection of the latex and the 

 preparation of the rubber follow the usual lines. One obser- 

 vation made by him is of interest : — 



But on one occasion, when the collector was commencing to 

 smoke some milk, I saw him wait for a short time, during which 

 he put his hand repeatedly to the mouth of the jar, and soon 

 learned that he could do nothing until the smoke was hot. The 

 dense white smoke rose abundantly, biit the milk would not 

 thicken on the mould. After a little while the jar became heated, 

 and the operation went on quite satisfactorily. I put my hand 

 above the mouth of the jar, but could not bear the heat scarcely 

 a second, and although the temperature of the smoke was appa- 

 rently less than boiling water, yet I judged it must have been at 

 least 180° Fahrenheit. Therefore the rapid coagulation of the 

 milk is simply produced by the high temperature of the smoke. 

 I have no doubt that with a strong current of heated air, or a good 

 pressure of steam from a pipe, a similar result would be obtained. 

 The finely divided particles of soot, which forms a large proportion 

 of the smoke, undoubtedly absorb a considerable amount of 

 moisture, although at the same time it must be looked on as an 

 impurity. I have no hesitation in giving my opinion that 

 equally as good rubber could be prepared by putting the milk in 

 shallow vessels, and evaporating the watery particles by the heat 

 of boiling water. 



The district visited by Cross consisted of marshy or low- 

 lying ground intersected by numerous tidal ditches. Hence 

 he was of opinion that " the flat, low-lying, moist tracts, lands 

 subject to inundation, shallow lagoons, water holes, and all 

 descriptions of mud accumulations, miry swamps, and banks 

 of sluggish streams and rivers," would be found best adapted 

 for Hevea. Yet in his notes he repeatedly gives evidence 

 rather to the contrary. " By far the greatest number were 

 met with on sites above the reach of the highest tides." 

 " This and several large adjoining trees were growing in moist, 

 deep, heavy soil of a fertile character, but quite out of the 

 reach of any inundation." " Three were observed the bases 

 of the trunks of which were flooded to a height of 1 foot, 

 yet the roots seemed to run up to the brow of the bank," &c. 



Of the three reports, that of ColUns was admittedly a com- 

 pilation ; Wickham's was somewhat brief ; while that by 

 Cross contained a wealth of details which appealed strongly 



6(4)14 . (59) 



