IOO THE WHOLE ART OF RUBBER-GROWING 



CHAPTER X. 

 Trees that Count Fimtumia Elastica. 



A TRAGIC STORY PURELY AN AFRICAN SPECIES A 



FOREST AUTOCRAT RUTHLESS NATIVE ACTION- 

 PROSPECTS AND ACCLIMATISATION. 



T F one were to look for an element of tragedy in 

 *- the short history of the remarkable growth of 

 the rubber industry it can be associated with the 

 story of the Funtumia elastica. This, perhaps the 

 handsomest of all the rubber-producing tribe, is a 

 forest tree indigenous to the West Coast of Africa 

 and the hinterland beyond. It was discovered 

 about 1883 in Accra, where it was known as the Ire 

 tree, and for nearly ten years was silently exploited 

 by a small knot of Europeans and natives, who, 

 guarding jealously the secret of their discovery, were 

 able in that period to pile up many fortunes from 

 the rubber those trees produced. At length the 

 Fanti men, who had been introduced from the Gold 

 Coast, where the tree had already been identified 

 under another name, located the forests in which 

 the Funtumia abounded. The Fanti men are born 

 foresters, and, being- keen, skilful rubber collectors, 

 they were not slow to take advantage of the oppor- 



