166 
This was followed by the receipt of two samples of rubber 
forwarded by the present Governor, Sir George O’Brien. The 
first samples proved entirely valueless, The second, received in 
March, 1898, were more promising. 
Alstonia "plumosa is known in Viti Levu as “Sarua.” It 
is described as abounding in the foresis and if cesta 
treated might prove a useful dune deeper plant. Mr. Joske, 
the Commissioner for Colo N orth, *the leaves are large 
k 
d with a f bamboo 
different particles are pressed together into balls. That is the 
way it is produced when required as an article of commerce. 
It is also chewed by children as a pastime and made into 
plastic (em se: which to play 
Mr. Joske adds, “I remem ber twent y years ago that it was 
Dti on both of the above islands [Viti Levu and Vanu 
Levu] as an article of commerce. If I recollect rightly. it "dni 
then fetched a good — in e European markets. The export 
of it fell off owing to the difficulty of getting the natives to 
continue steadily at the industry, and owing to the fact also that 
settlers hoped to do better with what they then considered 
more important articles such as cotton, sugar and coffee.’ 
It is possible that under ie stimulus of higher prices decies 
gathering in Fiji may be revived, It is — however, that 
the preparation has almost Abos a lost art, for the s dicia 
lately received from Sir George O'Brien was “soft and viseid on the 
outside, with little or no elasticity, and practically without value.” 
later specimen, received in June last, was € so viscid, but it 
gradually became hard and inelastic. Mr. as s confirms Mr. 
Horne that no milk i is obtainable -- the ste 
With the cedi was en nclosed a sample of Pubie from a tree 
known as “Baka” (Ficus bkit Forst. f.). According to 
Mr. Joske, this 4 yields quantities of ru ubber.” Further, “it is 
used by the natives of the interior as birdlime with which at 
certain seasons of the year they catch wild pigeons; it is very 
easily procured. Incisions are made in the bark and underneath 
are placed bamboos which receive the sap = pours out. It is 
e ated by means of heat, natives say they 
could get immense quantities of ‘this ea much trouble. 
Were it discover ed that the rubber was of commercial value it 
w 
not been sufficiently coagulated, it was regarded by Messrs. 
Hecht, Levis, and Kahn as suitable for ue ipn and 
its value to-day was placed at ls. to 1s. 3d. per pou 
A substance obtained from the * Ban " tree, kiy a rhe 
of the Sapotacecw, but, in the absence of flowers, otherwi in- 
determinable, was slightly elastic and might command a mie at 
= to p" per pound. 
her specimens, obtained from the * Wasalili " (Carruthersia 
Sisi Seem.) and the **Malawaci " (Trophis an 
: gor Seem.), were entirely deficient of elastic properties and 
reported to be of no commercial value. 
