272 RUBBER 



The season for gathering the seeds, meanwhile, came nearer 

 and nearer, and the problem of transport still remained 

 unsolved. And then came his chance. News was brought 

 down "the river that the captain of the Amazonas was left 

 stranded with the ship on his hands, and no chance of a return 

 cargo, the men who were in charge of these matters having 

 stripped the ship, and then abandoned her. 



Mr. Wickham boldly chartered the ship in the name of the 

 Indian Government, and arranged to meet the captain on 

 a certain day at the junction of the Tapajos and Amazon. 

 He engaged as many Indians as he could get and crossed the 

 river into the pathless forests between the Tapajos and 

 Madeira. Here day by day they ranged the forests, rilling 

 up their baskets with as heavy loads as their backs would bear, 

 and at the appointed hour he arrived with his precious burden. 



To his unspeakable relief he found the ship awaiting him. 

 The seeds were safely stowed on board, and for the moment 

 all anxiety was over. The weather was fine, and they made 

 their way down the river quickly. 



But then occurred a new difficulty. How were they to 

 avoid delay at Para ? In all probability they would be 

 detained here while inquiries were made of the authorities at 

 Rio as to whether the ship should be allowed to proceed on her 

 journey, and by the time the necessary permission was obtained 

 the seeds would be spoiled. However, thanks to the exertions 

 of our Consul, matters were speedily arranged with the Portu- 

 guese authorities, and the good ship Amazonas steered out 

 into the ocean. 



June 14, 1876, must always be regarded as a red-letter day 

 in the history of British commerce, for on that day the 

 Amazonas arrived at Liverpool docks with her precious freight 

 of seven thousand rubber seeds. From Kew Gardens a night 

 train was sent to meet the ship, and a fortnight later in the 

 glass-houses of Kew row upon row of young Hevea plants 

 gladdened the eyes of their owners. 



Not all of these plants lived, but 1,919 of them were sent to 



