January 1, 1912.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



169 



they start down the trail and disappear in the bnsh, their 

 strange call; "ah-oo-ah, rh-oo-ah," eclioing in the distance cnu\ 

 they are gone. 



I he man in charge appoints a lenero to cnt tire wood. 1 he 

 women fetch water from the river and wasli the pans, tubs and 

 barrels. Every thing is made clean and ready for tlie prepa- 

 ration of the rubber milk. The little boys are sent to the bajos 

 and retnrn laden with hanks of "batalilla" ( IpomeaJ— a green 

 vine used to prepare the rubber coagulant— which tliey pound into 

 shreds on the rocks and soak intubs of water, wringing out the 

 fibre, until a strong solution is obtained. 



At two o'clock the caucheros begin to return to camp, and 

 by four the last can of milk has been weighed and emptied into 

 the mixing barrels. Clean water is added and the milk is passed 

 through strainers which remove the dirt, bark, etc. The clean 

 milk is placed in pans, and the coagulating sohition added and 

 stirred. This completes the preliminaries of preparing tlie rubber. 

 Work for the day is over, and the swn sinks below the tree tops, 



days in the smoke-house the rubber will be ready for the market 

 A couple of caucheros come quietly into camp and ask for a 

 gun. They have met with deer tracks. The prospect of fresh 

 meat is ample cause for suspension of the order against hunting 

 during business hours, and the hunters depart hurriedly with the 

 gun. An hour passes and a distant shot is heard — and then an- 

 other. In the uncertainties of mountain hunting this means 

 nothing definite — but when two hours later, the hunters return 

 staggering under the weight of a fat buck, their prowess is 

 proven. The carcass is slung from a convenient limb and the 

 hide quickly removed. The meat is cut up into strips and the 

 bones carefully saved. A portion is salted down and hung in 

 the sun to dry, but the best meat is usually smoked. Rude dry- 

 ing r^cks are made, and the strings of meat are festooned over 

 the fire, which is replenished with green smoke-producing wood. 

 A piece of smoked deer meat roasted in the open fire or fried 

 in a very hot skillet, is a delight at the moment, and a memory 

 of bush life never to be forgotten. 



Camp Palo Seco. 



Dressing a Wild Pig at Camp Pearson. 



casting long shadows over the clearing. The men and boys are 

 bathing in the river ; their shouts and laughter echoing back 

 from the surrounding hills. The women are washing the pots, 

 pans and barrels, and the sound of contentment and geniality is 

 everywhere heard. Soon the camp quiets down, the stars shine 

 through the dusky trees, and the dim light from the new moon 

 makes ghostly shadows in the silent forest. The man in charge 

 sits in his hammock smoking, and mentally figures on the pos- 

 sible production. Wet weather will bring a low average and 

 failure. The uncertain natives may get discouraged and quit ; 

 leaving the work of the camp unfinished — his pipe goes out and 

 he dreams of rubber in hundred ton lots and a selling price of 

 $5 a pound. 



Ne.xt day proves to be ideal for rubber gathering, and an 

 early start is made. The camp workers are soon busy with the 

 routine tasks. The rubber has coagulated perfectly. Each pan 

 contains a soft white mass of rubber, floating in a black liquor. 

 It is carefully lifted out and passed through the press, coming 

 out in the form of a large white pancake. It is then stamped 

 with the company's brand and placed on the shelves to dry, 

 where it gradually changes to a dark amber color. After a few 



So the days go on. The piles of rubber increase and the grub 

 sacks diminish. The caucheros have scoured the woods for miles 

 around in search of untapped trees— the camp is finished. Early 

 next morning breaking up camp is quickly accomplished. 

 Heavy packs of rubber are slung on the backs of the men, the 

 equipment collected, and a portion of the burden allotted to each 

 individual. The "man on the job" slings his hammock and 

 blanket on his shoulders, and follows his rubber gatherers down 

 the home trail. Camp Pearson remains silent and deserted. 



Camp J?earson was named in honor of the editcr of The 

 India Rubber World, who several years ago made a visit to 

 Panama and spent many pleasant and profitable weeks study- 

 ing its rubber problems, and exposing the territory where this 

 camp is located. 



WHERE BAHYTES COMES FHOM. 



Barytes is a mineral used quite freely in the manufacture of 

 rubber goods. Over 50 per cent., or to be quite exact 54 per 

 cent., of all the barytes mined in the United States comes from 

 the State of Missouri. 



