CAOUTCHOUC TREE OF ASSAM. 



195 



by the quantity of caoutchouc it contains. This is ascertained by 

 rubbing a few drops up in the palm of the hand, which causes the 

 watery juice to separate (probably by evaporation) from the caoutchouc 

 which remains in the form of small, oblong, or round portions ; and 

 by kneading this in the hand, and striking it sharply once or twice 

 with the fist it acquires elasticity, so that an additional test of 

 excellence is at once pointed out. Many incisions are made in one 

 tree, the juice flows rapidly at first, at the rate of sixty drops a 

 minute from an ordinary incision, but this soon becomes so much 

 diminished that it dwindles to eight. The bleeding is continued 

 for two or three days, when it ceases spontaneously by the forma- 

 tion of a layer of caoutchouc over the wound ; and it is to the com- 

 mencement of this that the rapid diminution in the number of drops 

 is perhaps to be attributed. The quantity obtained from one tree 

 has not exactly been ascertained ; by some it is stated to be as much as 

 four or five maunds, while others say that a moderate tree will only 

 yield one gurrah full, or about ten seers. From the slowness with 

 which it flows, I should consider half a maund to be a fair average 

 for each bleeding. The juice is, however, said to flow faster at night, 

 but this demands verification. 



The operation is repeated at the end of eighteen or twenty days. 

 In seven miles of jungle we observed eighty trees, by far the greater 

 portion of which were of large size. Lieutenant Vetch has made a 

 calculation, (on the assumption that they are equally plentiful through- 

 out Chardowar,) that the number in this district alone is — trees. 



I calculate the number to be about 20,000. There is no reason for 

 supposing that they are not equally abundant throughout Noadwar, 

 nor in fact on any line where toorai prevails between Goalpara and 

 Bishnath ; beyond this, however, the increase in latitude may occasion 

 their decrease both in number and size. On the southern side of 

 the valley there is every reason to believe it to be equally common. 

 The general geographic range may hence be said to be in latitude 

 24°, to 26^° in longitude. It has been stated by Mr. Royle that it does 

 not extend beyond Pundua, Jynteapoor, and Churra Punjee, but on 

 no other authority than that it had not been found elsewhere. 



Taking the number of trees at 20,000, and the produce of each 

 from four bleedings at two maunds, the annual supply that may 

 be obtained from Durrung may be estimated at 13,000 maunds of 

 the caoutchouc itself, assuming Dr. Roxburgh's proportion of one 

 to three to be nearly correct. Some idea may be formed of the 



