GUTTA PERCHA. 



tra, the northern countries of the peninsula, and, above all, 

 Borneo. 



The total exports from Singapore are stated to have been : — 

 1844 .... 1.68 piculs. 



1845 



1846 



1847 

 1848 



169 

 5369 

 9296 



6768 



21,598, valued at 8274,190. 



The whole of this has been sent to Great Britain, with the 

 exception of 15 piculs to Mauritius, 470tfo to the Continent of 

 Europe, and 922 to the United States. 



About 270,000 taban trees have probably been felled during 

 the three years and a half the trade has existed. 



The price of taban in Singapore gradually rose from eight 

 to twenty-four dollars per picul, but it is now about thirteen 

 dollars. 



The Jour. Ind. Archipelago says : " In our next, we shall 

 give some more exact details, and notice the mixtures of gutta 

 percha, jelotong, gegrek, litchu, and other inferior guttas, the 

 products of different trees, which are sometimes used to adul- 

 terate the taban." 



ARTIFICIAL GUTTA PERCHA. 



An artificial substance may be made of a mixture of Para 

 gum-elastic and gum-shellac, which resembles that variety of 

 caoutchouc called gutta percha so nearly, that it is very difficult 

 to distinguish between the two, either as relates to texture or 

 odor. 



