FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



95 



further flow. The blacks collect it therefore by 

 making long cuts in the bark with, a knife, and as the 

 milky juice gushes out it is wiped off continually 

 with their fingers, and smeared on their arms, shoulders 

 and breast, until a thick covering is formed. This is 

 peeled off their bodies and cut into small squares, 

 which are then said to be boiled in \\ater. 



"From Ambriz the trade in this india-rubber 

 quickly spread south to the River Quanza, from whence 

 considerable quantities are exported." 



By way of comparison with preceding statistics the 

 exports to the United Kingdom of Caoutchouc from 

 the West African Portuguese Possessions have been 

 as follows : — 



As a rule, rubber juice had better be collected separately, 

 as regards yielding tree, and either allowed to coagulate in 

 layers by evaporation, or be turned into rubber by being poured 

 first into hot water, the heat of which for coagulation must be 

 locally regulated, and be dependent on nature of juice, some 

 coagiilating more readily than others. In addition to the 

 Latidolphias, species of Ficus are on the Gold Coast much 

 resorted to now for rubber. 



