ELASTIC GUM VINE. l6l 



The infide of the boots and gloves which had been 

 in contact with the wax being by far the fmootheft, I 

 made the outfide. The gloves were now iiniflied, 

 unlefs cutting their tops even, which was bed done 

 with fciftars. The boots, however, in their prefent 

 (late, more refembled (lockings, having as yet nofoles. 

 To fupply them with thefe, I poured upon a piece of 

 gunny a proper quantity of milk, to give it a thick 

 coat of gum. From this, when dry, I cut pieces fuf- 

 fkiently large to cover the fole of the foot, which, 

 having met with the milk, I applied; firft replacing 

 the boot upon the mould to keep it properly extended. 

 By this mode the foles were fo firmly joined, that no 

 force could afterwards feparate them. In the fame 

 manner I added heels and (traps, when the boots had 

 a very neat appearance. To fatisfy myfelf as to their 

 impermeability to water, I flood in a pond up to their 

 tops for the lpace of fifteen minutes, when, upon 

 pulling them off, I did not find my (lockings in the 

 leaft damp. Indeed, from the nature of the gum, 

 had it been for a period of as many months, the fame 

 refult was to have been expected. 



After being thus far fuccefsful, I was greatly dif- 

 appointed in my expectations with regard to their re- 

 taining their original (hape; for, on wearing them but 

 a few times, they loft much of their firft neatnefs, the 

 contractions of the gum being only equal to about 

 feven eighths of its extenflon. 



A fecond difadvantage arofe from a circumftance 

 difficult to guard againft, which was, that if, by any 

 accident, the gum fhould be in the fmalleft degree 

 weaker in one place than another, the effect of exten- 

 flon fell almoft entirely on that part, and the confe- 

 quence was, that- it foon gave way. 



From what I had obferved of the advantage gained 



in fubftance and uniformity of ftrength, by making 



Vol. V. L ufe 



