INDIA-EUBBER. 



253 



procured from trees^ in the same way as the turpentines. 

 They have many peculiar properties^ rendering them totally 

 distinct from the products already described in this chapter. 

 The first is — 



India-Rubbee, Gum Elastic^ or Caoutchouc. — This 

 now well-known substance is derived from various plants, 

 but that which reaches England is almost entirely the pro- 

 duce of Siphonia elastica (Nat. Ord. Euphorhiacem) , (Plate 

 XYIII. fig. 94.) 



The Siphonia {Hevea of Aublet) is a fine tree^ attaining a 

 height of sixty to seventy feet, with a stem clear of branches 

 for forty or fifty feet of its height, as round as jf turned, 

 with a diameter of about three feet at the base, and lessen- 

 ing very gradually; the bark is of a light stone-colour. 

 In order to procure the caoutchouc, the natives who collect 

 it pierce the stem of the tree with a small pickaxe early in 

 the morning ; around this incision they mould soft clay 

 in the form of a bowl, into which the juice runs pretty 

 freely to the extent of about four ounces daily. They col- 

 lect this juice each evening, and smear it over clay moulds of 

 bottles, balls, shoes, etc. After each process the moulds thus 

 coated are suspended in the smoke of a chimney, where they 

 dry and get a black colour. Successive layers are added until 



