302 



WANDERINGS IN 



Fourth that it sliivered and died, three days after we had passed 



JOUKNEY. 



Antigua. 



Indian If ever there should be a ^reat demand for lar^e supphes 



rubber. 



of gum elastic, commonly called Indian rubber, it may be 

 procured in abundance far away in the wilds of Demerara 

 and Essequibo 



An Indian Souic ycars ago, wlicu I was in the Macoushi country, 

 there was a capital trick played upon me about Indian 

 rubber. It is almost too good to be left out of these 

 wanderings, and it shows that the wild and uneducated 

 Indian is not without abilities. Weary and sick, and 

 feeble through loss of blood, I arrived at some Indian 

 huts, which were about two hours distant from the place 

 where the gum elastic trees grew. After a day and a 

 night's rest I went to them, and with my own hands 

 made a fine ball of pure Indian rubber ; it hardened 

 immediately as it became exposed to the air, and its 

 elasticity was almost incredible. 



While procuring it, exposure to the rain, which fell in 

 torrents, brought on a return of inflammation in the 

 stomach, and I was obliged to have recourse again to the 

 lancet, and to use it with an unsparing hand. I wanted 

 another ball, but was not in a state the >next morning to 

 proceed to the trees. A fine interesting young Indian, 

 observing my eagerness to have it, tendered his services, 

 and asked two handsfull of fish-hooks for his trouble. 



Off he went, and to my great surprise returned in a 



