ig2 



For the individual enterprise of that class of men which has 

 done so much in opening up other tropical countries, men of re- 

 source and adaptability who prefer a rough life, there is probably 

 a good held in Amazonas. Beginning, as they naturally would, on 

 a small scale, and extending their business, they could probably 

 do well. When the way has been opened by these, and a class 

 thus created who really understand the business, there will be more 

 opportunities for companies to work with success. It must be 

 remembered that at the present time rubber export merchants 

 have many difficulties to contend with. There is considerable 

 competition in their business, and there are the unending and 

 baffling variations in exchange. A company that owned rubber 

 forests on a large scale could avoid exchange transactions almost 

 entirely. 1 he necessary goods imported would be paid for in 

 London by the results of the sales of the rubber produced. More- 

 over once a rubber estate is in good working order it should be 

 possible to make very certain calculations as to its annual yield. 

 Taking these points into consideration, it would appear that the 

 natural extension of the rubber merchant's business will be in the 

 direction of securing the actual forests and lands in order to con- 

 trol the supply. No doubt means will be found eventually to over- 

 come the difficulties stated above. 



Owing to the recuperative power of the tree it is improbable 

 that the available supply of rubber from the Amazon Valley will be 

 exhausted in the near future. Also the enormous area over which 

 the estates extend, makes it unlikely that unexpected events should 

 occur by which the industry as a whole would be damaged, al- 

 though, no doubt, local checks may be expected from time to time 

 to occur. For the same reason and owing to the scarcity of labour, 

 it is improbable that any very sudden increase or decrease of the 

 annual production will Occur. The tendency is at present for a 

 slight increase of the total production each year. 



The best district in Amazonas is commonly reputed to be that of 

 the River Acre and the headwaters of the Purus. 



Two British companies are at present established in the Amazon 

 valley, namely the Para Rubber Estates Limited and the Amazonas 

 Rubber Estates Limited. The former have an already opened 

 estate in the islands near Para, whilst the latter are breaking in 

 virgin forest on the headwaters of the River Teffe in the State of 

 Amazonas. 



Beside these, a Belgian company named " La Bresilienne" work- 

 ing an estate near Para, whilst a French company, the " Comptoir 

 Colonial Francais, " is working some estates on the River Javary. 

 Several other French, German, and Belgian companies are said to 

 be about to be organised for the same purpose. 



Caucho is a vegetable product similar to rubber in many of its 

 qualities, but inferior to it in usefulness. It is obtained by tapping 

 trees much in the same way as rubber. The tree from which it is 

 obtained is a variety of the " Castilloa. " This tree prefers drier 

 parts of the forest than the Hevea. 



Owing to the fact that the laticiferous system is not connected 



