THE STORY OF PLANTATION RUBBER 5I 



they must not be very long out of the ground ; and, if 

 am^how possible, they must be got out of the country 

 without the Government of Brazil knowing what was 

 happening, for the authorities might say they would 

 not allow them to be taken away. 



If Brazil had known what a certain ship which left 

 the country in the earty part of 1876 was carrying, and 

 if she had guessed what a revolution in the rubber 

 world its cargo was destined to bring about, there is 

 little doubt but that she would have seen to it that 

 no Hevea seeds ever went to foreign lands. 



But I am anticipating a state of affairs which is 

 present-day history. Here, in his own words, is the 

 romantic story of how Mr. Wickham accomplished his 

 task. 



" Whilst I was still boxing about for, or to find, some 

 practicable way, the few European planters in that 

 remote locality were surprised and startled by news of 

 the arrival on the great river of a fully-equipped ocean 

 liner. This was not a little added to on receipt of an 

 invitation to a dinner on board the ss. Amazonas, 

 Captain Murray, as the first of the new line of ' Inman 

 Line Steamships, Liverpool to the Alto-Amazon direct.' 

 The thing was well done. The ship's boats took us 

 off at Santarem, and we found the ship dressed out 

 in blue lights. We were entertained by the two 

 gentlemen, as in charge of ' inauguration of the new 

 line.' We had an altogether unlooked-for good evening 

 on board, with a well-appointed supper in the saloon. 

 The following day she went on her way for the Upper 

 Amazon. I then thought no more about the episode 

 in rumination on any conceivable means of effecting 

 my purpose with regard to getting out a stock of the 



