on, A TRI? TO THE MAINLAKO. 
25 
tities of manufactured rubber, whicb is bartered for clothing and 
provisions at the coast settlements. There are two classes of 
rubber, the flat or cake manufactured rubber, and the scrap rubber, 
which I was informed is collected when congealed in the incisions 
made for bleeding the trees at the commencement of the season. 
On passing a large branch of the Wari-Biarri on the way 
up, I made enquiry as to wmere it led, and was informed that it 
had never been successfully explored by any one. On making 
further enquiries I found that extraordinary stories of the 
demoniacal things to be seen and met with on this branch were 
told, and believed in, but on sifting the matter further, I was led 
to conclude that such things were the mere invention, of Indians 
and Spanish-speaking rubber hunters, who by this means pro- 
tected a fine ground for the pursuit of their avocation, and I 
certainly should, had time at my disposal allowed, have made a 
careful search up this branch of the river. ^ 
When the locality in which- these trees thrive is compared 
with the climate and soil of Jamaica, it would appear to be doubt- 
ful, if this rubber-producing tree could ever be successfully cul- 
tivated on a commercial scale in this Island except in the moist 
and humid situations, but nevertheless, it should be given, and is 
well worthy of an exhaustive trial, as the vagaries of plants are of 
such an arbitrary character, and it is often by this means alone 
that their capabilities can be discovered. 
The night was spent in the Mission House, and we found the 
climate, though somewhat enervating in consequence of the 
excessive evaporation, caused by the sun beaming upon the earth 
so well-saturated by the rain of the previous day “not too bad. 
The “ Baboons” again enlivened the woods with their horrible 
howling ; but exhausted nature gained the battle, and therefore 
the noise had no serious effect in preventing our slumbers. In 
the early morning the Indians were moving and the woods again 
resounded wdth the cry of its day-feeding inhabitants , among 
these, the quick ear of the Indian detected the cry of the Pene- 
lope, and being myself but partially dressed, one of our boat s 
crew borrowed my gun and with the Indians proceeded to seek 
out file locality from which the cries had proceeded. ^ soon 
returned, bringing with them a male and female bird of this 
splendid species. Before they were dressed, I took sketches or 
the head and clutches, &c., and notes on the plumage, which has 
led to its approximate determination, as the “ Penelope or (Tuan 
(Penelope cristata)— This bird resembles both in appearance and 
manners the Curassows, and seems like them, to be capable, wn 
proper care and attention, of being added to the stock of donies- 
ticated poultry. They are about 30 inches in length, the tail 
