CHAPTER VI 

 TAPPING 



Tapping season Tapping tools Experiments with the gouge 

 Collectors supply all necessary implements Hours for tapping 

 Overhead tapping Indian system on the Tapajoz Pricking 

 the latex cells Tapping castilloa Girth of trees Bark renewal 

 Lack of cleanliness Conditions of life for the collectors. 



THE tapping season throughout the Amazon Valley 

 extends from the beginning of June to the end 

 of January. In the latter month the prevalence of the 

 heavy rainfall prevents a continuance of production, 

 owing to the cups filling with rain-water and spoiling 

 the latex for the purpose of coagulation. In March 

 the annual inundation of the riparian lands commences, 

 and until the latter part of May the flooded condition 

 of the country makes all work impossible in the forests. 

 The only tapping tool in general use is the machadinho 

 (small axe). It is in the shape of a tomahawk, and is 

 made in two sizes the larger sort 4 inches long by 

 2 inches wide at the edge, and the smaller 3 inches by 

 i inch. It is made of iron, in deference to the wide- 

 spread superstition that the use of steel is detrimental 

 to the quality of the latex, and eventually causes the 

 death of the tree. These axes are fitted with handles 

 varying from 3 to 4 feet in length, and head and handle 

 together weigh 2 pounds and i pound for the large 

 and small size respectively. Many attempts have 

 been made to invent a patent tapping instrument so 



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