32 RUBBER 



instead of smoke-cured. It, too, is called " up-river '* 

 rubber. 



5 and 6. Bolivia and Peru. Both countries export 

 large quantities of rubber, much of which is of ex- 

 cellent quality. The various grades of Bolivian and 

 Peruvian Para are classed collectively as " up-river " 

 rubber ; but the different qualities have native names 

 as well, and these are quite popular as trade terms. 



The Amazon country furnishes a rubber that is quite 

 distinct from the Para material. It is called " Caucho," 

 and is obtained from a tree known as the Castilloa Ulei. 

 The biggest exporters are Peru and Bolivia. 



There is no system of estradas to simplify the work 

 of the caucho-gatherers. A search-party, largely 

 composed of Indians, sets out to hunt for castilloa 

 trees in parts of the forest that have never before been 

 explored. There is not so much as a track to help 

 them on their journey, nor a clue of any kind to tell 

 them in which direction to cut their way. In order to 

 collect enough caucho to make a success of their trip 

 they will probably have to travel several hundred 

 miles ; quite likely they will lose themselves, and have 

 to wander about for months before they happen to 

 strike the right direction towards some isolated village. 

 All their baggage has to be carried by hand or on the 

 back, so only the barest necessities are taken. A large 

 share of each man's burden consists of provisions ; 

 even so, the stores are scanty enough, seeing that no 

 one knows for how long they wiU have to be eked out, 

 with the help of any game that may be shot. 



Every castilloa-tree that is found is felled to the 

 ground, and is then ringed with cuts, which extend the 

 whole length of the trunk, at intervals of about 2 feet. 



