FORMS OF THE CRUDE MATERIAL, 



23 



other substances. It can be extended to eight times its ordinary 

 length, without breaking, when it will again resume its original form. 



There is probably no other inert substance, the properties of 

 which excite in the human mind, when first called to examine it, 

 an equal amount of curiosity, surprise, and admiration. Who 

 can examine, and reflect upon this property of gum-elastic, with- 

 out adoring the wisdom of the Creator ? 



In early life, on first obtaining a thin scale, from a newly 

 imported bottle of the Indian manufacture, it occurred to the 

 writer that if any method could be discovered of preventing the 

 surfaces from adhering together, when brought in contact, it 

 would constitute a beautiful fabric, for many purposes. The 

 ideas of it then entertained, are already, more than realized. 



The odor of the native gum, is very offensive to many persons, 

 and has always been a great objection to its use. The writer 

 does not profess to have entirely removed this objection, by his 

 process of metallizing or vulcanizing, as described in another 

 part of this work. Upon this point the reader will find more 

 particular remarks under the head of "Metallic or Vulcan- 

 ized Gum-Elastic." 



Notwithstanding all the imperfections of the native gum, its 

 use, in various ways, even before any of the improvements 

 treated of in this work were made, had become almost indispen- 

 sable to man. For erasing pencil marks, it was invaluable, and 

 it had no substitute. The bottles, shoes, and toys made of it by 

 the Indians of Para, were exceedingly useful. As a raw material 

 for elastic threads, used in the manufacture of suspenders or 

 braces, in Europe, and for the Macintosh cloths, it was highly 

 valued, and extensively used. 



The consumption of the native gum for such uses has become 

 so general, that it will necessarily be a long time before it is 

 entirely superseded by the substitution of the recent improve- 

 ments, however much they may excel. 



The use of the native gum-elastic, in varnishes, can never be 

 interfered with, by these improvements, because the metallizing 

 or vulcanizing process is not applicable to the substance in a 





