69 
MR. CONSUL CHURCHILL to FOREIGN OFFICE. 
Her Majesty's Consulate, og 
My Lorp, April 28, 1899. 
IT may interest those concerned to know that the tree 
which produces the quality of India-rubber exported from Peru, 
through Pará, under the name of Caucho, has recently been deter- 
mined by Monsieur Aras a botanist, who is on the scientific 
staff u = Museum o 
ur Huber lately visited ane zu region in Peru, and 
diera that the tree was a 
e will shortly be able to or Te comparison, whether it is 
the same as the Castilloa elastica of Central America, or a species 
of the same genus. It had been surmised previously "n the 
tree might be a Castilloa, but I believe Monsieur Huber is the 
first authority who has settled the point. With this kuosiedio 
it results that the distribution of € Castilloa is wider than 
was previously thought to be the cas 
“Caucho” is also produced in T apr iege of the 
Bolivian tributaries of the River Amazon, and = > near 
the said tributaries that pass through Brazilian ierrit 
A sample of “ Caucho" exists, in the Museum of this City, that 
It is said that * Caucho" is also produced near Macapa and 
Mazagao, on the north bank of the River Amazon, near its estuary. 
A recent statistical return on the exports of the State of Para 
reports that this produce was exported in small quantities 
rosse about 10 tons) from A veiros (River Tapajos), Santarem 
Alemquer and Obidos on the River Amazon. The total shipm ments 
of“ Cacho " from Amazonian ports amount to about 2,000 tons 
annually. 
Monsieur Huber describes the process of tapping as follows :— 
“ The trunk is almost severed in two at a distance of about 3 feet 
from the ground, and the tree is lied to fall in such a manner 
that it is supported in an inclined position by iis branches, and 
still d on to the part that de left standing. The sap is collected 
d red into a hole made in the ground, and is coagulated by 
means of the juice of certain lowi lianas. The natives state that 
this is the best method of tapping, and that if the trees were 
Hev n be 
treated in the same manner as the eas they would soon 
— by insects which would er them where the bark 
ould be injured by incision. This may be only an excuse for 
re destruction which might ue avoided. However, it 
must be considered that'as these trees grow far apart from each 
other in their native state it must be inconvenient, if not 
oe to attend to more than one tree at a time. 
Trees that have been tapped in the manner described do not 
sardiee vio operation. In the course of time their places are, no 
doubt, taken by young trees that grow from seeds. 
The Amazonian Castilloas are found on elevated land that is 
beyond the reach of floods, whereas the Heveas thrive best in the 
lowlands that are periodically inundated by the River Amazon. 
I have, &c. 
(Bignod) WM. A. CHURCHILL. 
The — ogg of f Salisbury; K.G., 
&c., &e 
