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diameter. Its head was composed of three or four branches, 

 the average length of which was 2 feet each, total 8 feet of 

 branches from which the juice was obtained. We proceeded 

 in a primitive fashion. The leaves were broken off, and the 

 juice from the petioles was collected on a leaf. The juice from 

 the wounds on the branches, caused by breaking off the leaves, 

 was also saved. The young branches were then broken off 

 the tree, and the juice as it came from the broken ends was 

 allowed to drop on a leaf. These branches were broken again 

 in the middle, but very little juice was obtained by doing so. 

 The juice thus acquired was collected on one leaf, and when 

 worked a little with the fingers it at once formed crude 

 caoutchouc. This caoutchouc was applied to the semi-coagu- 

 lated juice adhering to the broken ends of the branches. A 

 slight touch was sufficient to join both so perfectly that the 

 whole of the semi-coagulated juice was taken clean away from 

 the ends of the branches and out of all the fissures in the 

 broken stumps on the tree. 



Probably the best way to collect the juice will be to cut the 

 young branches into lengths of a foot, and allow the juice to 

 drop from their ends into fiat tin vessels. Then break the 

 leaves off the branches and allow the juice as it flows from 

 the leaf stalks, &c, to fall into the same vessel, and apply a 

 portion of the caoutchouc formed to the ends of the broken 

 branches and the stumps on the tree, so as to remove all the 

 juice from them. By such simple means I anticipate that a 

 man to cut off the branches, assisted by two or three boys, 

 will collect 10 lbs. and upwards of crude caoutchouc in a day, 

 provided that the trees be growing closely together. 



Working the half congealed juice with the fingers causes it 

 to part with all watery substances, and it is at once caoutchouc, 

 requiring only to be put into shape for the market. Judging 

 from the foregoing example, and it was by no means a fair 

 one, a coppice stool will yield at least two ounces of caoutchouc, 

 and that quantity could be made in about five minutes by a 

 man and two or three boys accustomed to the work. They 

 would soon collect that quantity by their own method of 

 catching the juice in their mouths ; and it remains to be 

 proved which of the two ways will be quickest, and give the 

 best result in quantity and quality of caoutchouc. 



When once a plantation of the trees has been formed, and 

 the Fijians accustomed to gather and properly y>repare the 

 juice, I have every confidence in this matter turning out a 

 success. 



