277 
his last, or form, held by a long stick or handle, previously 
besmeared with soft clay, (in order to slip off the shoe when 
finished) holds it over the pan, and pouring on the milk until it 
is covered, sets the coating in the smoke, then giving it a second 
coat, repeats the smoking, and so on with a third and fourth, 
until the shoe is of the required thickness, averaging from six to 
twelve coats. When finished, the shoes on the forms are 
placed in the sun the remainder of the day to drip. Next day, 
if required, they may be figured, being so soft that any impres- 
sion will be indelibly received. The natives are very dexter- 
ous in this work. With a quill and a sharp-pointed stick they 
will produce finely lined leaves and flowers, such as you may 
have seen on the shoes, in an incredibly short space of time. 
After remaining on the forms two or three days, the shoes are cut 
open on the top, allowing the last to slip out. They are then 
tied together and slung on poles, ready for the market. There 
pedlars and Jews trade for them with the country people; and 
in lots of 1,000 or more they are again sold to the merchants, 
who have them stuffed with straw, and packed in boxes to 
export, in which state they are received in the United States. 
In the same manner any shape may be manufactured. Thus 
toys are made over clay forms. After drying, the clay is bro- 
ken and extracted. Bottles, &c., in the same way. According 
as the gum grows older, it becomes darker in colour and more 
tough. The number of caoutchouc trees iu the province is 
countless. In some parts whole forests of them exist, and they 
are frequently cut down for firewood. Although the trees exist 
in Mexico and the East Indies, there appears to be no impor- 
tation into the United States from these places. The reason, I 
suppose, must be the want of that prolificness found in them here. 
The caoutchouc tree may be worked all the year; but generally 
in the wet seasons they have rest, owing to the flooded state of 
the woods; and the milk being watery, requires more to manu- 
facture the same article than in the dry season.” 
*22 WiREWORMS. The numerous insects which continually make 
their appearance amongst our plants for the purpose of preying 
upon them, call forth all the ingenuity of the gardener, either 
to slay them by human force — making the lovely parterre a 
field of battle; to create a famine amongst them by withholding 
their natural food ; to scare them away by offensive odours ; 
239. ACCTABICM. 
