422 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[June 1, 1912. 



the moonlight. To the right the river bank showed for miles a 

 line of sand so white as to appear almost phosphorescent. Above 

 it loomed the black mass of the forest and the grey black of the 

 sky. On the left bank the jungle came close to the water's edge, 

 except where an occasional great sand flat or a mass of boulders 

 broke the dense shadow. 



At six o'clock the next morning we were tied up to the high 

 sandy-terraced bank, above which rises Ciiidad Bolivar. Boats 

 do not often anchor here, as the river is narrow and very deep. 

 How deep none seem to know, but a resident merchant said that 

 a German vessel lost 80 fathoms of chain in trying to get a hold 

 on the river bottom. Even if this were at a time of high water 

 it would argue considerable depth. The ancient name of the 

 city, which was Angostura, will be recognized as relating to the 

 narrowness of the river at this point. Although tied up to the 

 bank, no one was allowed to go ashore. So we breakfasted and 

 waited. Finally, about nine o'clock, the Harbor Master came 

 aboard, the gang plank was put in place, and the passengers be- 

 gan to file ashore. During the wait the assistant purser, noticing 

 my Knight Templar watch-fob, claimed me as a brother Mason, 

 told of lodges at Bolivar and Caracas, and secured for me a 

 trusty porter. This porter, yclept Raimon, led us to an excellent 

 hotel and returned in the course of two hours to say that the 

 Customs officials were ready to examine our luggage. So much 



Acquatella & Co., and 9 to Boccado & Co., while on the Dos 

 Hcrmanos, also from San Felix, Blohm & Co. received 59 

 planchas; J. Acquatella & Co., 158; Bonada & Co.. 12; Pichani- 



U-\-Cart fkiim Interior with Balat.^. 



has been told of the repacity and greed of these officials that we 

 naturally were somewhat nervous. We met, however, only 

 courteous treatment and the promptest possible passing of our 

 luggage. All of which we appreciated. 



Balata. from some one of the Mimusops, or rather from sev- 

 eral of them, is gathered in Venezuela, chiefly in the great low- 

 lying territory known as the "Territorio Delta."' About 100 

 miles from the sea the Orinoco is divided into five great chan- 

 nels and more than a score of lesser ones. This forms a system 

 of waterways running through a vast heavily-forested country 

 that 'has never been thoroughly explored, and known only to the 

 Indians who penetrate its fastnesses in search of Balata. It is 

 an important industry in Venezuela, the yearly crop amounting 

 to more than $2,000,000. 



It is constantly in evidence, on the river steamers, in heaps on 

 the river bank, in carts, or carried on the heads of porters. The 

 daily papers note its arrival, and on the day we landed "El 

 Annuncio" reported that on the Balandra Carmen Mariana, from 

 San Felix, there were 2.221 planchas of balata consigned to J. 



Balata Porters. 



oni & Co., 17, and Dalton & Co., 248. Considering this was not 

 the busy season, this was doing very well. 



On receipt the planchas are at once cut in half by a huge 

 knife, known as the guillotine, and examined for purity, just as 

 peiles of rubber are at Para and Manaos. 



All of the Venezuelan balata is block. One of the handlers 

 explained this as due to the laziness of the native gatherers. 

 They make the block by boiling the latex until it coagulates, and 

 then pressing it into shape. They destroy the trees by cutting 

 them down in spite of the efforts of the government to prevent 



Balat.x on Shore Ready to be LoADEn on River Boats. 



it. The gathering is done along the banks of the rivers, and 

 while there are plenty of big trees in the interior, it does not 

 pay as yet to send expeditions to gather the gum. The natives 

 claim that when balata trees have been cut down many others 

 at once spring up, so that there is no danger of ultimate exhaus- 



