183 
not worth while to délit It must be remembered that it is 
a there 
Caucho-yielding trees still, for there are vast tracts of land 
absolutely unexplored. These, however, are either inaccessible 
or would be unremunerative to work 
* Tt is much to be desired that some more economical method of 
gathering Caucho could be introduced, one which bene allow 
the sap to be got without destroying the trees, as the timber is 
worthless. is is done in other parts of the world S here more 
economieal conditions prevail. At present many of the Caucheros 
are working on Brazilian Rivers, where the supply is as yet more 
plentiful. The heavier export duties of Brazil will cause the 
Caucheros to return to Peru, when, in the absence of Caucho, 
they will devote themselves either to its cultivation, which i 
searcely likely to any large extent, or gathering the other chief 
kind of rubber, known as Je 
“ This is of — (€ dea value than Caucho, being worth 
from 70 per cent. to 90 per cent. more, according to ruling prices 
here. The tatad of hone it, peris has not been so well 
understood by the native labourers, or they have not found the 
work so much to their taste. 
“In gathering Jebe the tree is simply tapped, the sap being 
collected in small pans, which are emptied daily or periodically. 
This class of rubber collecting is pees ucted mainly by settlers, as 
y ee from the wandering Cauche 
To complete the available. information. on the ee qnit the 
tolling extract from e Consul n s Report on the 
Trade of Iquitos is reprinted from the Foreign | Office Report on 
the Trade and Finances of fu (1898, p. 13, No. 24 Ege :— 
“ Rubber forms the chief article of export. Most of it goes to 
Europe, and very little attention is given to other eodd d mE = 
the district. The chief classes are Caucho and Jebe, the prese 
prices of which may be taken as 30 and 50. soles per Ko 
those within easy reach havi ng become scarce owing to the 
wasteful method of gathering the gum. The tein has been 
to cut down the tree instead of merely tapping it, 
