Makih 1, 1914. 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



295 



A Djoeka village we visited near the mouth nf the Goniiii 

 River, a hranch of the Maroni, is so remote and out nf touch 

 with civilization that the inhahitants understood scarcely any- 

 thing of the local Dutch language. Xor are they cordial to 

 strangers, regarding them, instead, with suspicion, for the rea- 

 son that they are sul)ject to attacks by the Indians, who live up 

 the Gonini. 



While we were calling here one of the women sought to ob- 

 tain a shirt from us for her young son. To make us understaml 

 what she wanted she used the sign language, imitating one's 



l''-\l'.\NSK OK StILI. W'.MKK. I'l'I'KR M.NRON'I. 



m the >linul<kr .ind be 

 ibc feeling of conteut- 



movenients when a uins(|uitii biles bini 

 crushes it, the drawing on of a shin am 

 nient when "mosquito no bite more." 



An umbrella aroused the curiosity of the savages wherever 

 we went. Knowing that it opened somehow-, one of them took it 

 once and stood it point downward, apparently cNincting it to 

 open. As it did not do so he passed it to me to sliow him and 

 his companions how it worked. .\s we oi)cned it suddenly and it 

 spread its wings, like some old, black goblin about to fly on an 

 evil errand, the women uttered a low scream of fear and sur- 

 prise. They often felt my linen coat and trousers, and my shirt, 

 then made signs to me that these articles were very good to pro- 

 tect one from the flies and mo,s(|uitoes. They evidently thought 

 that this was my only reason for wearing clothes. They also 

 fingered my hat and boots, and pulled my mustache to ascertain 

 if it were real or false, and gazed at us as we wrote our journals, 

 for writing was a mystery to them. To many of them we wen 

 queer objects well worth going a long way to see. 



Our experiences on the journey up to the balata concessions 

 could fill many volumes: suffice to say we met with many rare 

 people and experiences before arriving at our destination. 



It is only after a trip such as we took, up a dangerous river 

 and through the heart of the finest balata country in the world. 

 that a fair conception of the industry can be grasped and an 

 idea of the value of this wonderful substance obtained. 



Arriving at a landing named Cottica. on the left bank of the 

 Maroni, we obtained our first sight of the enormous sheets of 

 balata. already tied up in bundles ready for transportation to 

 Albini. They were of a dark brown color and looked as if they 

 had undergone rough usage on their long trip through the forest 

 to the river front, but on the ntber hand extraordinary care is 

 taken in handling the parcels when descending the dangerous 

 rapids. 



All the balata is brought down the river. The canoes, if prop- 

 erly loaded, will iiold about five tons of freight, and the crew, 

 which consists generally of two black natives (Djoekas), wIkj 

 are skilled river men. take chances on riding over the smaller 

 rapids. We have watched them coming down the center of the 

 river at racing speed, the paddles all in their positions on the 

 gunwales, and when they approached a rapid tlie nun would 



work like mad to force their boat into the smoothest part of the 

 current. Then the excitement was intense, as they shot down 

 the steep incline like a mill race and went bounding over the 

 great billows I)elow, and linally entered (juict water again. They 

 are not always lucky enough to come through so easily, how- 

 ever, as a wave may wash over the sides of the canoe or they 

 may not be able to avoid some of the rocks and sunken timbers 

 which abound in the dry season. Then a tragedy usually fol- 

 lows anil the boat, balata and crew are lost. The balata some- 

 times may fioat in the water, but in most cases if the canoe sinks 

 the cargo is lost forever. 



1 he more conservative shij)pers generally insist that great care 

 must lie taken and compel their men to land above the rapids 

 and either transport the balata around on land or lower the 

 canoe down by means of ropes. When one considers that there 

 are over 25 bad falls in these rapids and numberless minor swift 

 places, one can realize the expense and risk on a cargo of balata 

 « )rth. say, $6,000. going down the Maroni River. 



.\fter a stay of two weeks on the concessions, making a gen- 

 vral study of the methods employed in gathering the latex, we 

 made up our minds tij return to civilization. The tramp out to 

 the river landing occupied nine hours of steady walking. 



On our return voyage we passed 26 rapids, many of which 

 uerc very dangerous. To pass these rapids we let ourselves 

 down at times by means of a rope anchored to a rock, some of 

 ibe men wading in the water and guiding the boat; at other 

 limes we shot over shallow places, scraping the bottom; again, 

 we liolted headlong through narrow, rock-bound gateways, with 

 destruction pressing us hard on both sides; again, we dashed 

 madly, but with unerring aim, between great rocks that barely let 

 us slip through ; again, we tore at break-neck speed through a 

 IdUg. narrow channel wdiere the outcropping reefs formed high 

 walls on both sides; again, we flew along close upon some island, 

 with the bushes raking us from stem to stern, and dodged skil'.- 



Tr.ail Through the Bush to B.\l.\T-\ Concession. 



fully around short bends in order to avoid sunken rocks; again, 

 we glided carelessly down rapids, where the water was deep, 

 then caught ourselves by means of the poles and the exercise of 

 great strength and dexterity, checking our progress completely, 

 with destruction yawning for us just ahead and the current 

 pulling us that way almost irresistibly ; again, we rushed fear- 

 lessly through narrow passages with the angry waters washing 

 our decks and whirlpools just lieyond to the right and left; and 

 finally, we floated calmly and slowly onward where all was quiet 

 and peaceful and all danger was passed, and the canoe men either 

 stretched themselves on the bottom of the canoe to rest or played 

 gj'.mes or sported in the water like river monsters at play. 



