REPORT ON THE CAOUTCHOUC OP COMMERCE. 
17 
New Grenada. 
The Caoutchouc produced here is known in commerce as 
“ Carthagena,” and is imported in the form of sheets of f inch 
thickness. It has a somewhat “ chewed 55 appearance, resulting 
from pressure. It is of very good quality. In colour it is black, 
and also tough, and occasionally “ tarry.” If analogy of character 
he anything, I should say it was the produce of Castilloa , which is 
plentiful. Dr. Spruce says (in letter to Collins), “ 1 have often 
“ been told of a pinnate-leaved tree which I have never seen, hut 
“ there is said to he such an one about Serpa on the Amazon, and 
“ the same or a cognate species in New Grenada, the Caoutchouc 
“ of which finds its way to Cartagena.” 
Ecuador. 
Ecuador Caoutchouc is exported from Guayaquil, and is the 
produce of Castilloa elastica. It is in large flakes or lumps of a 
whitish colour in the best kinds, the lower lands being porous, the 
pores being filled with a disagreeable black liquid, wliich stains the 
knife and hands. 
Peru. 
The Castilloa elastica is reported here, but its produce does not 
seem to be exported. 
Panama. 
Large quantities of Caoutchouc from Castilloa elastica and Mark- 
Tiamiana are prepared, and chiefly sold in New York. The trees 
are plentiful on the Bio Gatun and Bio Trinidad. It is chiefly 
collected in the forests of Darien and Panama, About 2,000 men 
are engaged in collecting it along the principal rivers. The trees 
are cut down to obtain the “ caoucho,” and in Panama there are 
two establishments for cutting and drying it. 
Costa Bica. 
The Ule-Ule is said to exist here in great abundance. 
Salvador. 
Caoutchouc is collected from Castilloa elastica for export, 
though unknown as such in this country. 
( 8279 .) ® 
