3*57 
GUTTA PERCHA IN THE PHILIPPINES. 
The report of gutta-percha in the Philippines by Dr. PENOYER, 
L. Sherman, Jr., of the Philippine forestry bureau, summarized in 
The India Rubber World of February ist, 1902, (page 137), 
is supplemented by some details of interest supplied by him in a 
later report of the bureau, for the fiscal year 190 1-2. He records 
an expedition in search of Gutta-percha trees, with the result of 
confirming the belief already entertained that a considerable supply 
of gutta existed in the Philippines, though as yet the most valuable 
species ( Dichopsi? gutta ) has not been recognised. Dr. Sherman 
explored portions of the large island of Mindanao and the islands 
and towns of the Sulu archipelago, finding not only Gutta-percha 
trees, but that the Chinese had already built up a much larger trade 
in the product than is indicated by the customs returns. So well 
are the natives controlled by these traders that the existence of 
Gutta-percha was denied in many places where Dr. Sherman 
afterwards found it, and the secrecy of the methods employed is 
carried to such an extent that when the gutta re; ches the Singapore 
market its source is not known there. The amount of Gutta-percha 
which paid an export duty to the Philippine authorities during the 
twelve months ending June 30, 1902, was 373,331 lbs.: of the imports 
at Singapore in 190 1 only 14,000 lbs. were credited to the Philip- 
pines. 
In Mindanao Dr. SHERMAN was surprised at the extent of coun- 
try over which Gutta-percha exists. The natives say that all of the 
mountain region of Southern Mindanao contains Gutta-percha. 
Much of the country has not, of course, been explored by Americans, 
or even by gutta collecting natives, but so far as any one has gone, 
, the trees have been found, and in none of the towns visited by Dr. 
Sherman on the south coast did he find Chinese or Moros who 
were not engaged in the Gutta-percha business, shipping the pro- 
duct through Cottabaco. Going inland Dr. SHERMAN found large 
Gutta-percha trees some of which were felled for him by the natives 
and the latex extracted by the usual methods. One tree 160 feet 
in height and 8 feet in circumference yielded 84 - lbs. of dry Gutta- 
percha. Had the tree fallen so that it could have been “ringed” 
entirely around and had precautions been taken to catch all the 
milk which was lost on the ground, Dr. Sherman thinks there 
would have 20 lbs. while if all the gutta contained in the bark and 
leaves could have been secured there would have been 150 to 2QO 
lbs. 'I his is typical of the wasteful native methods in all Gutta 
percha district. In much of this region the trade is controlled by 
a Moro datto named PiANG, with the aid of a Chinese agent at 
Cottobaco. PiANG claims to observe the Government regulation 
against the felling of Gutta-percha trees, but Dr. Sherman found 
this method practised by his men nevertheless. Similar conditions 
were also found on some of the smaller islands visited, particularly 
on Tawi-tawi. 
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