49 



addition is said to be essential to the preparation process. The 

 latter is described as follows : — 



" It (the Getah) is taken from the Jelutong tree, and is obtained 

 by barking the tree and then scraping off the gum as it exudes, and 

 not by tapping, a process which is very destructive to the trees. 

 The Getah must be prepared immediately, and this is done by first 

 sprinkling a pint of kerosene oil in a tub, then a kerosene tin full 

 of water is poured in and the same quantity of the gum, to which 

 is added a teaspoonful of the " Menang Sayla," and the whole is 

 then well mixed and afterwards kneaded and rolled into large balls, 

 in which form it is exported." The whole value of the product is 

 about $5 per picul, and in Singapore it is from 7 to 8 dollars per 

 picul. 



Getah Jelutong is already well known in the Kuropean and 

 American markets under the name of Pontianac, but its commercial 

 utilisation is chiefly confined to the United States, which imports 

 large quantities annually. The supply is obtained from Borneo and 

 the Malay Peninsula, and is not restricted to Sarawak as the Consul 

 appears to indicate. 



The specimen of the Getah Jelutong was a large cheese-shaped 

 mass, of light brown colour externally, but quite white and of 

 granular structure within ; it was almost free from dirt or vegetable 

 debris, but contained a considerable quantity of water, which exu- 

 ded on pressure, and it had a distinct odour of kerosene ; it was 

 soft, could be easily worked in the fingers, and possessed very little 

 tenacity. On exposing a piece to the air for some time, however, 

 the outer portion hardened and became quite friable. When treated 

 with hot water it formed a very soft mass, without becoming sticky, 

 and could readily be moulded, but it did not harden on cooling 

 merely returning to its original form. 



On chemical examination the material was found to contain : — 

 Moisture ... ... 40.8 per cent. 



Ash ... ... 28 



The dry material was entirely soluble in cold ether, but only par- 

 tially soluble in alcohol. It did not contain any of the hydrocarbon 

 "Gutta," the characteristic constituent of true guttapercha, but the 

 following substances were isolated from it : — 



1. A small quantity of a sticky elastic substance, resemblino- 

 caoutc houc in appearance and properties ; 



2. A large quantity of a white granular substance ; 



3. A very small quantity of a distinctly crystalline substance; 

 the two latter substances being dissolved by hot alcohol. 



A comparative examination of a sample of commercial Pontianac 

 gave almost identical results. 



In appearance the Gutta Jelutong resembles a poor quality Gutta 

 of Gutta percha, but its composition, as indicated above, would sug- 

 gest that it may perhaps be more closely allied to the inferior varie- 

 ties of rubber. 



