512 MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS 



on our arrival at Necoto it was seen that before us there 

 was nothing but dense jungle ... I concluded it 

 would be rash to send some hundreds of carriers into 

 the jungle ... In no district (in the Territories) 

 have I encountered greater difficulties than those which 

 presented themselves in the occupation of the Makonde 

 territory. The whole region is mountainous, and covered 

 with a dense jungle with a few clearings in the lowlands, 

 where the natives have their plantations." (Report ot 

 Capt. Costa Campos, on Makonde Occupation, 1913.) 



The extraordinary development of the rubber indus- 

 try during the last 20 years indicates the necessity of 

 introducing new species, which might be expected to 

 produce more rubber than is now obtainable from the 

 mere 'exploitation of the indigenous species. In the 

 Territories of the Companhia do Nyassa attempts of 

 this nature are being made by private individuals, and 

 by the Company in small plantations attached to the 

 Posts. The principal species which are being experi- 

 mented with are Hevca brasiliensis (Para rubber), and 

 Manihot Glaziovii (Ceara rubber). In respect of the 

 last named Mr. Stocks wrote in 1907 : 



" Up to the present time no attempt has been made 

 in Portuguese Nyasa to cultivate rubber on a large 

 scale. Some three years since a number of seeds of 

 Ceara (Brazilian) rubber were distributed to various 

 centres and planted. I have already commented on 

 their vigorous and healthy growth at M'tumba, where 

 some of the trees have attained a diameter of 12 in. in 

 three years. Single plants were also growing well in 

 some of the villages passed through in the interior. 

 This species is found to yield the maximum amount of 

 rubber when grown in somewhat dry, stony positions; 

 rich alluvial soil should therefore be avoided. The trees 

 may be tapped in their fifth year. Ceara rubber is very 

 easy to cultivate; the seeds can be obtained from the 

 established trees at M'tumba." (Mr. Stocks: Report 

 to Search Syndicate, 1907.) 



it remains to mention Landolphia parviflora (L. 

 Tholonii). This indigenous species exists in large 

 quantities in the valleys of the Msinge and Luchilingo. 



