MAKING INDIA RUBBER. 



327 



egg, though longer ; and the other inaja, which is smaller. An earthen 

 pot, with the bottom knocked out, is placed, mouth down, over the fire, 

 and a strong pungent smoke from the burning seeds comes up through 

 the aperture in the bottom of the inverted pot. 



The maker of the rubber now takes his last, if he is making shoes, or 

 his mould, which is fastened to the end of a stick ; pours the milk over 

 it with a cup, and passes it slowly several times through the smoke 

 until it is dry. He then pours on the other coats until he has the re- 

 quired thickness ; smoking each coating until it is dry. 



Moulds are made either of clay or wood ; if of wood, it is smeared 

 with clay, to prevent the adhesion of the milk. When the rubber has 

 the required thickness, the moulds are either cut out or washed out. 



Smoking changes the color of the rubber very little. After it is pre- 

 pared, it is nearly as white as milk, and gets its color from age. 



The most common form of the India-rubber of commerce is that of a 

 thick bottle ; though it is also frequently made in thick sheets, by pour- 

 ing the milk over a wooden mould, shaped like a spade, and, when it 

 has a coating sufficiently thick, passing a knife around three sides of it, 

 and taking out the mould. I should think this the least troublesome 

 form, and the most convenient for transportation. 



From twenty to forty coats make a pair of shoes. The soles and 

 heels are, of course, given more coats than the body of the shoe. The 

 figures on the shoes are made by tracing them on the rubber whilst soft 

 with a coarse needle or bit of wire. This is done in two days after the 

 coating. In a week the shoes are taken from the last. The coating 

 occupies about twenty-five minutes. 



An industrious man is able to make sixteen pounds of rubber a day ; 

 but the collectors are not industrious. I heard a gentleman in Para say 

 that they rarely average more than three or four pounds. 



The tree is tall, straight, and has a smooth bark. It sometimes reaches 

 a diameter of eighteen inches or more. Each incision makes a rough 

 wound on the tree, which, although it does not kill it, renders it useless, 

 because a smooth place is required to which to attach the cups. The 

 milk is white and tasteless, and may be taken into the stomach with 

 impunity. 



The rubber is frequently much adulterated by the addition of tapioca 

 or sand, to increase its weight ; and, unless care is taken in the manufac- 

 ture, it will have many cells, containing air and water. Water is seen 

 to exude from nearly all of it when cut, which is always done for the 

 purpose of examination before purchase. I brought home some speci- 

 mens that were more than half mud. 



