50 THE GUTTA PERCHA. 



Dr. Oxley says of it, that it is called, properly, the 

 gutta suban the percha being an inferior article 

 and is a tree of considerable size, being from sixty to 

 seventy feet in height, and from two to three feet 

 in diameter ; in general appearance, much resembling 

 the genus Durio, which produces the celebrated durian 

 of the East. It is said to be found in all the forests 

 of the peninsula of Malacca, of Borneo, Singapore, 

 and the adjacent islands ; but the quantity is much 

 diminished, as, to procure the gutta, the natives fell 

 the trees, and ring the bark at distances of from 

 twelve to eighteen inches ; a cocoa-nut shell, or some 

 other receptacle, being placed to receive the sap which 

 exudes from each incision : this sap is afterwards col- 

 lected in bamboos and boiled, in order to drive off the 

 watery particles and inspissate it to the consistence it 

 finally assumes. Although in large quantities the 

 boiling may be necessary, the Doctor observes, it will 

 consolidate and assume the same appearance with- 

 out it. 



The quantity of gutta obtained from each tree varies 

 from five to twenty catties, each catty being equal to 

 to Iglb. English. Its great peculiarity, and that 

 which renders it so very useful, is the effect boiling 

 water has upon it ; for, on being immersed in water 

 above the temperature of 150 Fahrenheit, it becomes 

 soft and plastic, so as to be capable of being moulded 

 into any required form, which it retains on cooling. 

 The Malays have manufactured it into whips, baskets, 

 basins and jugs, shoes, traces, vessels for cooling 

 wine, and several other domestic uses. 



