THE VEHETATION OF THE VIROm-FOEEST. 
121 
liotwoen consumers and producers would tend at the same time to 
destroy, at least in great measure, the vampire-like dominion exercised 
hy a few landowners and other influential persons over the poorer rubber 
collectors, who have not established for themselves a coiTospondence 
with Para. These monopolists, for the most part majors and colonels 
of the National Guard, being able, by virtue of their positions, to bring 
most considerable influence to bear on the elections of deputies, are 
caressed by the Government ; and, employing with irnjinuity all manner 
of vexations, they compel the poorer class of collectors to sell to them 
the fruits of their industry at half-price ; to be content with 14 mibeis 
per aiToba (about 28 shillings for 32 lbs.), while they themselves dispose 
JIOUGII OF TUB SimOSIA ElASTICA (CAOUTCItOUC TKEE). 
of it for 36 ndlreis at Para. To make matters worse, even this wretched 
price being scarcely ever paid in ready money, but rather in goods 
and provisions charged at thrice tlieii- value, it is not to be wondered 
at that the poor seringa collector, though he works a gold-mine (so to 
speak), at the end of the year owes more than he can discharge; and 
from this cleverly designed bondage he is never able to liberate himself. 
Thus disheartened, these poor creatures, mostly ignorant mestizoes and 
mulattoes, become even more inconsiderate and frivolous than Nature has 
made them ; and, out of the temptingly arranged stores of their “ pro- 
