50 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 



the foot of each tree for the next clay's use. On reaching the 

 house, the milk is manufactured at once into shoes, bottles, or 

 sheets, as it soon hardens. This is often done by females. A 

 fire is made of some nuts, common in the forest, over which is 

 placed, inverted, an earthen pot with a hole in the bottom, 

 whence issues a jet of hot smoke. The wooden last, after being 

 smeared with clay to prevent adhesion, is dipped into the milk, 

 which adheres to it like paint, and is hardened by one or two 

 seconds' exposure to the hot smoke, then is plunged again suc- 

 cessively into the milk until the required thickness is obtained. 

 Extra coats are given to the heel and sole. About sixteen to 

 eighteen dips form the shoe — say ten general coats and six 

 extra for the bottoms and heels. Each last has a handle which 

 is stuck into the ground for the shoe to dry. When finished, 

 they are of a dingy white ; but by exposure to the sun and dew, 

 in a few days turn brown and black, during which they are 

 covered with drops of water exuding from the rubber. In two 

 days the shoes are hard enough for figuring, which state lasts 

 some three days. This is done simply by drawing lines on the 

 soft surface with the rounded points of wire or needles, two or 

 three of which are fixed in a handle, forming a species of style, 

 with which figures are formed according to fancy. Stamps do 

 not answer, perhaps owing to the irregularity of the surface of 

 the last. In a week the shoes are taken from the last (which 

 once were made of clay, but now wood is only used.) As soon 

 as a few pairs are finished, they are taken to market and sold 

 by the makers, under previous engagements, and perhaps for 

 advances received, at from ten to fifteen cents per pair. One 

 man collects milk for six to ten pairs per day. The dipping of 

 a pair of shoes occupies about fifteen minutes, and the figuring, 

 the same or less. 



The bottles are made by dipping a ball of clay formed around 

 the end of a stick, which is removed when dry or by soaking in 

 water ; these, with sheets and refused shoes, are consumed in 

 the manufacture of metallic rubber, and are generally shipped 

 in bags or bulk, while the shoes, after being stuffed with straw 



