40 
Its physical composition according to -Pa vex : — - 
Gutta .. 78-82 
Albane ... 16*14 (crystalline resin) 
Thiari-n ... 5*04 - 
roQ'OO 
H is a great pity that- in Singapore and in the Malay States 
generally the term (ntltci is used indiscriminately' to mean either India 
rubber or Gutta Percha, as this leads to great inaccuracy in returns. 
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE TRADE. 
In 1880, Great. Britain impaled from the Straits Settlements 
68,862 cuts, of Gutta Perch a valued at £505,821, while in 1876 the 
imports were only 19,665 cu ts., ‘and in 1878, 49,387 cwls. Thus it 
would seem that the rush for this product cairn* on between 1876 
and 1880, or within the last 28 years. In 1890 the price was 3/6 
per pound, but rose to $4,60 * n 1902. 
The exports from Singapore for the last 18 years are as follows : — 
1886 : 
Pikuls 
33.946 
1895 Pikub 
; 43 , 9 io 
1887 
Do. 
25,539 
1896 
Do. 
43,769 
1888 
Do. 
23,71 7 
1897 
Do. 
45,4 17 
1889 
Do. 
59.493 
1898 
Do. 
93.398 
1890 
Do. 
<78,930 
1 899 
Do. 
7 8,343 
1891 
Do. 
54,026 
1900 
Do. 
97.399 
1892 
Do. 
41.990 
1901 
Do. 
73 . 8 1 5 
1893 
Do. 
38,045 
1902 * 
Do. 
63.559 
1894 
Do. 
4-6841 
1 903 
Do. 
3 5566 r 
■ The question which naturally forces itself on cone’s mind is, will 
there be any demand for Gutta Percha by the time the Federated 
Malay States' forests have been given time to recuperate, and will the 
price ever reach the high one of 1902. A substitute may be invented 
or submarine cables may become unnecessary ; either of these two 
contingencies failing it is difficult to see why the demand should not 
be even greater than heretofore. In this case it will be advisable for 
the Government to transmit its Gutta Percha direct to agents or 
manufaeturers at home, and above all not to send it to Singapore to 
be changed beyond all recognitions by the 'Chinese middlemen. 
Appended is a statement of the highest prices of three qualities of 
Gutta Percha exported from Singapore during its zenith and decline. 
1 am told that this decline of first quality is largely^ due to the fall- 
ing off of the demand for the best quality owing to the cessation at 
present of work on laying cables, but do not think this the only cause. 
A. M. BURN-MUEDOCH. 
