45 



is at once apparent in Figures 2 and 3, the obliquely ascending rows 

 of cuts are not continuous channels encircling the trunk, but consist 

 or more or less separate partially overlapping incisions. The latex 

 from each cut thus spills over into the lower preceding one. The first 

 oblique rows are usually started a few inches above the point of in- 

 sertion of the palm-leaf conveyor, at angles of 45° to 70°, depending 

 on the size of the tree and the habits of the chiclero, and the follow- 

 ing oblique rows are then made ten to twenty inches apart. In the 

 case of large and old trees, the outer bark is generally too hard and 

 thick for making satisfactory incisions, and as a consequence it is 

 usually removed before each oblique channel is made. This is well 

 shown by the tree in the foreground of Figure 1 and in Figure 2. In 

 the small tree shown in Figure 3, however, removal of the outer 

 bark was not necessary. Chicleros thus frequently carry two ma- 

 chetes, an old one for removing the outer bark and another sharper 

 one for making the oblique incisions. 



As soon as the chiclero has tapped as high as he can reach stand- 

 ing on the ground he begins to climb. This is done with the aid of 

 a thick rope passed around the tree and the middle of his body. The 

 looseness of the loop permits the chiclero to steady himself with his 

 feet against the tree, leaving both hands free for tapping, as is illus- 

 trated in Figure 1. The trees shown in this figure are being tapped 

 for the second time, and the overlapping of the previous and the new 

 oblique channels accounts for the striking diamond-shaped areas on 

 the bole. Climbing spurs such as those used by telephone linemen 

 are frequently employed as an aid, but the best chicleros spurn such 

 assistance and climb only with bare feet. The chiclero thus climbs 

 higher and higher, swinging from side to side as he makes the alter- 

 nate rows of cuts until the entire bole has been tapped. In cases 

 where the trunk forks and large erect branches are present, the 

 latter also may be tapped. When one tree is finished the chiclero 

 proceeds to the next, and so on into the early forenoon until relative 

 humidity, sun, wind, and temperature begin to affect the flow of 

 latex. In the dense jungle where only slight winds penetrate relative 

 humidity remains fairly high, so that tapping may continue until 

 middle forenoon. In the more open "bush," however, increased tem- 

 perature, sun and wind, and loss in humidity make tapping unprofit- 

 able after 8 or 9 o'clock in the morning. 



