12 
Continued to sell well, the quality and condition of nearly all ar- 
rivals were satisfactory and the small trade done must have been 
profitable to the importers, 
Java Rubber and New Guinea have been very scarce, but 
generally speaking these qualities wrere not in great demand and 
quotations were only nominal. 
Balata. We had reduced arrivals of these descriptions, and all 
the imports of these grades have met with a good demand, al* 
though at one time Block Balata was as low as is. yd. The year 
closes with buyers at 2 s. and sellers at 2s. id. Nearly the w f hole 
of the stock in first and second hand has been cleared off and gone 
into sonsumption, and all new arrivals are selling very readily at 
full prices. Sheet Balata. Owing to the increased consumption 
the prices have also gradually gone up, and the market closes with 
buyers at 2s. yd. showing 4 d. per lb. advance for the year. 
Gutta Percha, The year opened with a very poor demand, and 
the market continued weak throughout almost the whole of the 
year. It was only during November that, owing to larger contracts ■ 
for cables being placed, extensive buying orders appeared on the 
market, thus increasing values of Gutta Percha, and since then a 
fairly large business has been done. There seems to be every 
prospect of a continued good market with fair prices being paid for 
good and desirable qualities of Gutta Percha. 
THE HEVEAS OR SERIN GUEIRAS. 
BY 
J. BARBOSA RODRIGUES. 
Director, Botanic Gardens, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 
Translated by 
A. D. MACHADO, 
Assistant Superintendent , Botanic Gardens , Singapore . 
Chapter I. 
HISTORICAL RfiSUME. 
The knowledge and the use of elastic gum date from the remo- 
test antiquity. 
The primitive races of America — -when into their harbours sailed 
Christopher Columbus — were already acquainted with this article 
employing it in their manufactures and their games. Its use w'as 
introduced into this great continent by those Asiatic immigrants 
who in prehistoric times, had settled here. Divided, each race em- 
ployed this substance produced by the flora of the locality in which 
they resided and containing the same properties, consisting always 
of a milk, which, when prepared, gave elasticity and impermeability. 
For example, the Mayas and the Naukds of Mexico, not only 
utilized it but likewise traded in the article, exporting it in great 
