58 THE RUBBER INDUSTRY 



the children. As far as possible, she obtains ready- 

 made clothing at the store rather than make her own 

 garments, and in this and in other household matters 

 she is extravagant and thriftless. With very few excep- 

 tions, no educational facilities are provided on the rubber- 

 producing properties, and the children of resident 

 families grow up in an absolutely illiterate state. 



While the discipline among the labourers is extremely 

 slack, the general conditions in the rubber districts are 

 far more orderly than might be expected in view of the 

 total absence of any police force. Serious crime is of 

 comparatively rare occurrence. Murders and other 

 acts of violence take place occasionally, but only at 

 long intervals. This is the more remarkable in face of 

 the fact that a rifle and ammunition is part of the 

 equipment of every collector. Petty theft is a frequent 

 practice, and larceny in regard to rubber is not uncom- 

 mon. This latter offence is due principally to the 

 instigation of Syrian pedlars, who ply their trade in 

 boats and launches on all the waterways. They are 

 known locally as regatones, and they carry an assortment 

 of cheap merchandise and strong drinks, and with 

 these inducements tempt the seringueiro (collector) to 

 dispose of rubber far below its market value. These 

 Syrians meet with short shrift when their dealings are 

 discovered by the owners or managers, and their dis- 

 appearance leads to no very searching investigation on 

 the part of the local authorities. Whenever disturbances 

 do occur on the estates, the onus of restoring order 

 rests with the management ; for there is no organized 

 civil or military body to appeal to when trouble arises, 

 and refractory members of the labour force necessitate 



