244 
SYRINGE TREE. 
a layer of moist earth, in which they contrive a 
trench, and place in it a palm-leaf as a gutter, the 
end being immediately over a calabash resting on 
the ground. Having proceeded thus far, and dis- 
posed all things in order, they cut several gashes in 
the trunk of the tree, to the height of three feet, 
and the juice trickling from the wounds into the 
trench is carried along the palm-leaf, and falls into 
the calabash prepared for its reception. When the 
tree ceases to furnish this juice, the Indians proceed 
to a preparation which they are careful not to dis- 
close ; this is the manner in which they pour it 
upon the clay moulds, made on purpose, where it 
acquires that consistence and form which render it so 
applicable to the different purposes for which we re- 
quire it in Europe. 
In making a bottle or other vessel they are said 
to line the mould with the prepared juice while it is 
yet liquid, and expose it to a thick smoke till the 
lining becomes of a yellow colour; upon this they 
put a second layer, which is treated in the same 
manner ; and they judge from experience when 
their vessel is of a proper thickness. When the 
resin is dry and hard, they pick out the clay and fill 
the elastic bottle with water, in order to wash out 
the pieces of the mould that may chance to remain 
in the cavity. In this state the substance, which is 
very flexible and almost insoluble, is called elastic 
gum. 
Luke-warm water, or a heat of eighty or a 
hundred degrees, softens this substance, and softens 
