224 SAM DARLING'S REMINISCENCES 



tions is usually about the size of a man's thigh. 



It has quite a clean trunk, which is 

 Rubber . . 



cut m sloping lines, herring-bone 



fashion, with the main line down the centre, 

 from which they start tapping it. The rubber 

 then begins running, and is caught in half a 

 coco-nut shell, which is placed by the natives 

 at the bottom of the trees. When the natives 

 collect and get their buckets half full they take 

 them to the factory. It is then placed into a 

 tub of hot water, with a steam pipe under it. 

 After scalding it becomes like dough, and it is then 

 placed in cold water and kneaded. It is after- 

 wards placed between rollers and rolled out into 

 lengths ; then hung up in a drying room ; and after 

 this it is nearly ready for the market. 



