TAPPING 75 



No attempt is made by the collectors to keep the 

 cups and latex cans in a cleanly state ; the former are 

 never washed, and remain in the estradas covered with 

 rust throughout the tapping season, while the latter are 

 not even rinsed out after the latex is brought into the 

 smoking-huts. Naturally, the dirt in cups and cans 

 induces fermentation, and leads to the formation of a 

 larger proportion of lump than would be the case if 

 cleanliness was practised. The profitable character of 

 the industry in past years made the rubber producers 

 careless in regard to the details connected with the col- 

 lection of the latex, and slovenly habits were permitted 

 without check or hindrance ; hence the difficulty of 

 changing established customs now that all possible 

 economy is necessary to meet successfully the com- 

 petition of Oriental production. A little care in con- 

 nection with the utensils in use would make a reduction 

 of not less than 5 per cent, in the proportion of low- 

 priced sernamby (scrap), and add that amount to the 

 output of fine rubber. The managers argue that to en- 

 force rules of cleanliness would entail considerable delay 

 for the collectors when making the rounds of the trees 

 in the estradas, but they forget that the collector would 

 benefit equally with the owner if adequate attention 

 was given to this important matter. 



The conditions of life are replete with hardships for 

 the seringueiro (collector) under existing circumstances, 

 and his situation has undergone a marked change for the 

 worse during the last two years. So long as rubber 

 was in the neighbourhood of five shillings a pound the 

 collector made good money in his position of modified 

 partnership with the owner of a rubber-producing prop- 



