GOODYEAR ON GUM -ELASTIC. 



seasoned. Much less care is taken by the natives in preparing 

 the bottles, which are made for the supply of the foreign re- 

 manufacture ; this is productive of much mischief, as is fully 

 stated under the head of " Method of gathering the gum." 



The trees are not tapped oftener than every other day, and 

 when suffered to remain undisturbed for several days, the yield 

 is proportionally greater. These trees continue to yield sap for 

 upwards of twenty years ; and it is a well known fact, that the 

 oldest and most frequently tapped trees produce the richest sap. 



Following is a more detailed description of the method pui'- 

 sued by the Indians near Para in gathering the gum and manu- 

 facturing shoes ; written by an individual who formerly resided 

 in Para.* 



The India Rubber Tree — Mode of collecting the Gum, and of making 

 and figuring India Rubber Shoes. 



In reply to your inquiries respecting the India rubber business 

 at Para, I will endeavor to say something of what I lately saw 

 there as to the mode of preparing the article for market. The 

 " Seringa" tree, as it is called by the natives, (the India Rubber,) 

 is common to the whole valley of the Amazon, but is most 

 abundant on the island and low lands, which at times are in- 

 undated in the rainy season. The trees are scattered promis- 

 cuously through the forest, and reach a diameter of eighteen 

 inches or more ; the bark is smooth, somewhat resembling the 

 beech, but thicker. The leaf is an oblong oval, thick and 

 glossy, the wood white and rather soft, being useless for build- 

 ing, as it decays very soon. The milk is white and tasteless, 

 and may be taken into the stomach with impunity, much re- 

 semblinor the milk which exudes from the milk-weed of New 

 England, and seems to reside in the bark, or between the bark 

 and wood. The first work of the " Seringeros" (as the Indians 

 who gather the article are called,) is to open foot-paths from 

 tree to tree in the forest, so as to form a circuit sufficient for 

 the operations of one man ; so that each man has his circuit 



* Mr. W. D. Gookin, Southport, Conn. 



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