22 
REPORT ON THE CAOUTCHOUC OP COMMERCE. 
In 1868, 2,500 maunds were sold in the Mungledye Bazar, about 
the same quantity in the Tezpore, and 1,500 in the Chydooar. 
A quantity of Caoutchouc is also imported into Assam, collected 
by the tribes from the hills beyond British territory. 
Malayan Caoutchouc. 
Singapore. — The Caoutchouc which takes its name from this 
island is the produce of surrounding countries, and has all the 
characters of the Caoutchouc yielded by the Ficus elastica , Roxb. 
Caoutchouc is imported into Singapore, which is the entrepot for 
the Malayan Archipelago, from. Java, Sumatra, China, Manilla, 
Borneo, Malay Peninsula, Penang, and Malacca. Of these coun- 
tries, that of Borneo and Malacca is the produce of TJrceola elastica , 
Roxth 
Java Caoutchouc is the produce of Ficus elastica as identified by 
my friend Dr. de Vrij. It is called “ Fohon Raret ” or Kohlehlct* 
by the natives. They incise the tree and allow the milk to dry on 
the trees, forming the strings so obtained into a rope-like torch, 
which they use in searching for edible birds’ nests. 
Penang and Siam produce Caoutchouc of good quality, and 
having the characteristics of that furnished by Ficus . With regard 
to Penang, there is ' an asclepiadaceous plant, the Cynanchum 
malifoliwm, Wight, a smooth twining plant, which Dr. Wallich says 
yields an excellent Caoutchouc, but all my inquiries respecting the 
question have had no present result. 
China is said to contain Caoutchouc trees. Dr. Seemannf 
mentions the Ficus elastica, , Roxb., as a cultivated plant in 
Hongkong, 
African Caoutchouc. 
Madagascar. — Dr. Meller records the Ficus elastica , Roxb., as 
occurring here. > 
Angola*. — Dr. Welwitsdn mentions a species of Ficus yielding 
Caoutchouc. 
■ 
ip , * — -j' — « — ; — m : ; * 
* * Kohleblet S. Ficus elastic «, Rxb.,* vnr. bengaiensis BI.” Hasskarl. Cat. PI. in 
Horl. Bot. Bagoriensi Cult. 
t Seeinann, “Botany of the Voyage of H.M.S.u Herald,’” p. 413. London, 1852-7. 
