LAXDOLPIIIA RUBBER FORESTS 99 



task he is not very fond of. And in this con- 

 nection it is important to remember that while 

 we cannot compel him to work, we can easily 

 frighten him away. 



The rubber forests of Mozambique have been 

 for many years tapped by natives who sell their 

 rubber to Indian traders. The very fact of a 

 European entering into possession of a forest is 

 likely to check the traffic with Indians ; but unless 

 the owner is content to put up with a continual, 

 if small, leakage, it will be necessary for him to 

 adopt definite measures to protect his property. 



Robbery of the rubber can be countered in four 

 ways. The first is by the introduction of labour- 

 saving machines for the extraction of the rubber 

 from the bark, such as I have described, erecting 

 them at intervals through the forest. This would 

 provide an attraction to the native by saving him 

 labour and travel. But it would not in itself be 

 sufficient, because the Indian will buy any filth, 

 even crude bark and rubber, provided it can be 

 rolled into a ball ; and again, travelling for the 

 natives is often but a pleasant pastime, especially 

 if he has an excuse to go into the town or to 

 the store. 



The second weapon in the hands of the 

 European is a patrol of native police. But unless 

 carefully watched native police are likely to do as 



