49 
addition is said to be essential to the preparation process. The 
latter is described as follows : — 
“ It (the Getab) is taken from the Jelutong tree, and is obtained 
by barking the tree and then scraping off the gum as it exudes, and 
not by tapping, a process which is very destructive to the trees. 
The Getah must be prepared immediately, and this is done by first 
sprinkling a pint of kerosene oil in a tub, then a kerosene tin full 
of water is poured in and the same quantity of the gum, to which 
is added a teaspoonful of the “ Menang Say la,” and the whole is 
then well mixed and afterwards kneaded and rolled into large balls, 
in which form it is exported.” The whole value of the product is 
about $5 per picul, and in Singapore it is from 7 to 8 dollars per 
picul. 
Getah Jelutong is already well known in the Kuropean and 
American markets under the name of Pontianac, but its commercial 
utilisation is chiefly confined to the United States, which imports 
large quantities annually. The supply is obtained from Borneo and 
the Malay Peninsula, and is not restricted to Sarawak as the Consul 
appears to indicate. 
The specimen of the Getah Jelutong was a large cheese-shaped 
mass, of light brown colour externally, but quite white and of 
granular structure within ; it was almost free from dirt or vegetable 
debris, but contained a considerable quantity of water, which exu- 
ded on pressure, and it had a distinct odour of kerosene ; it was 
soft, could be easily worked in the fingers, and possessed very little 
tenacity. On exposing a piece to the air for some time, however 
the outer portion hardened and became quite friable. When treated 
with hot water it formed a very soft mass, without becoming sticky, 
and could readily be moulded, but it did not harden on cooling 
merely returning to its original form. 
On chemical examination the material was found to contain : 
Moisture ... ... 40.8 per cent. 
Ash .... ... 28 
The dry material was entirely soluble in cold ether, but only par 
tially soluble in alcohol. It did not contain any of the hydrocarbon 
Gutta, the characteristic constituent of true gutta percha, but the 
following substances were isolated from it : — 
1. A small quantity of a sticky elastic substance, resembling 
caoutchouc in appearance and properties ; 
2. A large quantity of a white granular substance ; 
3. A very small quantity of a distinctly crystalline substance- 
the two latter substances being dissolved by hot alcohol. 
A comparative examination of a sample of commercial Pontianac 
gave almost identical results. 
In appearance the Gutta Jelutong resembles a poor quality Gutta 
ot Gutta percha, but its composition, as indicated above would sug- 
gest that it may perhaps be more closely allied to the inferior varie- 
ties of rubber. 
Vu 
