197 
Thenceforward is the period during which the Gum Benjamin is 
mie and sold. 'The Gum Benjamin is worked after the following 
ethods. So many trees are notched so as to form a girdl 
sound the stem. An interval of three months is allowed to cipes 
between the period of notching and that of picking the Gum 
Benjamin dammar, which wells out of the trunk an collects 
in the notches. By means of a sharpened stick or the point of a knife 
this is picked out, bark and all, and gathered at once in baskets. It is 
then sorted and her me different classes, according to choice. 
Picking cannot commence before the interval of three months has 
elapsed, as the dammar that has trickled out into the notches would not 
have had time to harden. It would still be soft and sticky, and if 
picked at the time would me dirty, owing to the bark coming off 
with it; nor would it be of such value either, as, testy sticky, it would 
cling to other things, and the full benefit would not. be derive d, such as 
would be the case if it were properly drv. For this reason, the Gum 
Benjamin must be left for three months after the notching, in order that 
Among the people above mentioned the picking and sale of Gum 
Benjamin is generally See as one way of obtaining a livelibood, 
for the gum has a value, and is reckoned as a marketable. commodity. 
do; for instance, they have to plough the fields and reap their rice 
harvest. In the eighth and ninth months their work on the 
paddy fields is finished, and they can therefore turn their attention to 
to Gum Benjamin. For this reason there is a speci vea Their 
ally fields are their first care, and then the Gum Benjamin trade. 
a who have no business with ploughing paddy fields and plotting 
$1 _ wish, work continuously at Gum Benjamin at all 
seasons, and during every month of the year. The Gum Benjamin 
trade requires no very great outlay of capital. All the implements 
uired are one large axe, a rice et, and an open woven basket. 
If a person vibe to work sisi without servants to assist him, he can 
do so; for in the first stages there is meet much that requires to be 
lifted or carried. The only labour necessary would be when ‘the ‘Gum 
st ome is being picked and placed in baskets, and has to be carried 
e temporary or permanent home of picker. The profits gained 
ái n one icular occasion or another can hardly © uged 
ho work out much sell at a large profit, those who 
dirtied by the presence of bark. e second class is that left over 
from the first class, and is in somewhat smaller lumps than the latter, 
and has some, but not much, bark attached to it. This is inferior in 
quality to Class I., and is half the be That is to say, if Class I. is 
sold at 75 a Class 11. would sell a 374 ticals. The third class is 
that left over from Class II. This dali de bark attached to it, is soiled 
with dust via , and is in fine small pieces. It is called ** mun,” 
and is half the value of Class IT. The price of Gum Benjamin as sold 
in the jungle districts where the gum is worked is as follows :—Class I. 
