34 
leaving a very limited amount of bark between the grooves, 
subsequently the trees all wither (especially during the dry 
season) and die. 
The mode adopted by the Fantees, who are to be found in good 
numbers at Owo and its vicinity, for extracting the juice is the 
one most suitable and convenient. The first point is for the 
tapper to make a vertical groove (3 to 3 in. wide) from the bottom 
to the top of the tree, and in such a way as to gouge out a bit o 
the true bark ; after this is done, and as the tapper is descending, 
two series of oblique lateral grooves converging towards the main 
vertical groove are made, of the same width; thus all the 
exudation of the lateral grooves flows into the main groove which, 
together with its own exudation, finds its way down to the base 
of the tree where a receptacle of some kind is placed to receive 
the milk. 
The method the natives adopt for ccagulating the juice is a very 
dirty and improper one, but a better and simpler way of produc- 
ing a whiter and superior quality was shown them. This is done 
by adding twice the quantity of water as there is juice (strained), 
and then gradually heating; by so doing the rubber becomes 
coagulated, and does not burn up as in the case with the native 
system. This kird of rubber comes out milky white, and 
when pressed (to get rid of water), has an agreeable smell and a 
superior quality. We pointed out to them the advantage gained 
in taking a little trouble in the preparation, as on it depends the 
value of their produce. 
As there was no more rubber milk to be obtained in several 
rubber supply is obtained, although in some parts about the Ekiti 
orests we observed other rubber-yielding trees, such as species of 
Landolphia, Ficus, &c. 
The species of Landolphia yielding the soft rubber is found 
plentifully in the Ekiti forests, but owing to its softness, and the 
low prices offered by merchants, the people do not consider 
it remunerative enough. 
The other species of Landolphia (probably L. owariensis) 
which produces the harder and superior rubber is much preferred, 
but as it is very scarce and not so common in the interior as the 
soft one, very few balls have been brought down and sold at very 
lucrative prices. During all our tour the only place where it was 
observed to exist (but not in a very large quantity) is in the Isoya 
forests. We advised them to search for this particular species, 
which is commonly known under the native name of Ibo Akitipa, 
and to collect rubber of it, which, we assured them, will be 
readily sold at as good a price, if not better, than that offered for the 
rerubber. The tapping of this species of Landolphia will not 
take so much time as the Ire. The operation is simple enough, 
and can be successfully done by intelligent and careful natives. 
The stem of the vine (which is as thick as a man’s arm) 18 
detached from all its supports and stretched out on the ground, 3 
but its roots are not at all disturbed, so that the vine is 
supported by its roots. After stretching out the vine on the 
Wg ie Sse 
