INDIA-RUBBER. 253 



procured from trees, in the same way as the turpentines. 

 They have many peculiar properties, rendering them totally 

 distinct from the products already described in this chapter. 

 The first is — 



India-Kubber, Gum Elastic, or Caoutchouc. — This 

 now well-known substance is derived from various plants, 

 but that which reaches England is almost entirely the pro- 

 duce of Siphonia elastica (Nat. Ord. UupAorbiacea) . (Plate 

 XYIII. fig. 94.) 



The Siphonia (Revea of Aublet) is a fine tree, attaining a 

 height of sixty to seventy feet, with a stem clear of branches 

 for forty or fifty feet of its height, as round as if turned, 

 with a diameter of about three feet at the base, and lessen- 

 ing very gradually; the bark is of a light stone-colour. 

 In order to procure the caoutchouc, the natives who collect 

 it pierce the stem of the tree with a small pickaxe early in 

 the morning; around this incision they mould soft clay 

 in the form of a bowl, into which the juice runs pretty 

 freely to the extent of about four ounces daily. They col- 

 lect this juice each evening, and smear it over clay moulds of 

 bottles, balls, shoes, etc. After each process the moulds thus 

 coated are suspended in the smoke of a chimney, where they 

 dry and get a black colour. Successive layers are added until 



