f 
20 REPOET ON THE CAOUTCHOUC OF COMMERCE. 
of the hills in the Khallug, Booree-Goma and Kooreeaparah 
Booars, between the Bor-Nuddee and Moora Bhunseeree Nuddee, 
and has been exported from the forests, which extend oyer about 
40 square miles), as well as from the low valleys of the Bhootan 
Hills, immediately above them, and especially from the forests in 
the neighbourhood of the exit of the Noonae Nuddee in the 
Kdialing Dooar and the adjoining hills, and those between the 
Beemjany and the Bootah Nuddees. 
In the Chardooar forests, between the Moora Bhunseeree, or 
Bootah Nuddee and the Bhoralee Biver, they are abundant. The 
Chardooar forests cover about 220 square miles. In these forests, 
between the Beelseeree and the Gobhoroo Nuddees, they are found 
as far as 16 miles from the hills ; but as here the atmosphere is 
drier than at the hills, the produce is not nearly so abundant. 
In the Nowdooar forests, covering about 2,000 square miles, the 
atmosphere is dryer, but the Caoutchouc obtained from trees close 
to the hills is good. 
In the Chydooar forests, Caoutchouc trees are only found in the 
forest along, and immediately at the foot of, the hills. They are 
also most abundant in the Luckimpore and Naga Hill districts, as 
well as in the low valleys of the mountains immediately adjoining 
them. 
Mr. Leeds, the conservator of the Bengal forests, writes me that 
he has been collecting Caoutchouc in Sikkim (Camp Silligoree), 
it being the first collection in that district. 
Collection and Preparation of Assam Caoutchouc. 
Mode of Tapping . — The collectors with their <£ Baos ” or knives 
cut every part of the tree they can get at. The cuts on the lower 
portions of the stem, and the roots which run along for a distance 
of 30 to 40 feet, vary from 6 to 18 inches in length, and are made 
diagonally througli not only the bark, but also the wood, which is 
thus injured. The cut is elliptical in shape, being about 3 inches 
across the centre. The milk flowing from these cuts is received 
into holes prepared in the ground, or in leaves doubled up in funnel 
shape. The cuts on the upper branches are smaller, and the milky 
juice is allowed to dry on the tree. About 50 oz. of milk is the 
yield of a tree in August, giving about 15J oz. of pure Caoutchouc. 
Buring the cold season, from October — March, the milk is scantier, 
but richer than in the warm weather, Mqjch — October. 
