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For the individual enterprise of that class of men which has 
done so much in opening up other tropical countries, men of re- 
source and adaptability who prefer a rough life, there is probably 
a good field in Amazonas. Beginning, as they naturally would, on 
a small scale, and extending their business, they could probably 
do well. When the way has been opened by these, and a class 
thus created who really understand the business, there will be more 
opportunities for companies to work with success. It must be 
remembered that at the present time rubber export merchants 
have many difficulties to contend with. There is considerable 
competition in their business, and there are the unending and 
baffling variations in exchange. A company that owned rubber 
forests on a large scale could avoid exchange transactions almost 
entirely. I he necessary goods imported would be paid for in 
London by the results of the sales of the rubber produced. More- 
over once a rubber estate is in good working order it should be 
possible to make very certain calculations as to its annual yield. 
Taking these points into consideration, it would appear that the 
natural extension of the rubber merchant’s business will be in the 
direction of securing the actual forests and lands in order to con- 
trol the supply. No doubt means will be found eventually to over- 
come the difficulties stated above. 
Owing to the recuperative power of the tree it is improbable 
that the available supply of rubber from the Amazon Valley will be 
exhausted in the near future. Also the enormous area over which 
the estates extend, makes it unlikely that unexpected events should 
occur by which the industry as a whole would be damaged, al- 
though, no doubt, local checks may be expected from time to time 
to occur. For the same reason and owing to the scarcity of labour, 
it is improbable that any very sudden increase or decrease of the 
annual production will Occur. The tendency is at present for a 
slight increase of the total production each year. 
The best district in Amazonas is commonly reputed to be that of 
the River Acre and the headwaters of the Purus. 
Two British companies are at present established in the Amazon 
valley, namely the Para Rubber Estates Limited and the Amazonas 
Rubber Estates Limited. The former have an already opened 
estate in the islands near Para, whilst the latter are breaking in 
virgin forest on the headwaters of the River Teffe in the State of 
Amazonas. 
Beside these, a Belgian company named " La Bresilienne ” work- 
ing an estate near Para, whilst a French company, the “ Compton- 
Colonial Francais, " is working some estates on the River Javary. 
Several other French, German, and Belgian companies are said to 
be about to be organised for the same purpose. 
Caucho is a vegetable product similar to rubber in many of its 
qualities, but inferior to it in usefulness. It is obtained by tapping 
trees much in the same way as rubber. The tree from which it is 
obtained is a variety of the “ Castilloa. ” This tree prefers drier 
parts of the forest than the Hevea. 
Owing to the fact that the laticiferous system is not connected 
