70 TlMEHRI. 
about the proportion of one of the former to seven of the 
latter. When clean it is nearly colourless, and thin sec- 
tions of it are almost transparent. 
In the different countries and with the several kinds of 
india-rubber several methods, modifications of a com- 
mon plan, are used in collecting and drying the juice. 
From his own observation in the forest Mr. CROSS 
reports that in collecting Ceara rubber, the collector on 
coming to work takes with him a stout knife and a hand- 
ful of twigs to serve as a broom. Arriving at a tree, any 
loose stones or dust are swept from the ground round 
the base, and some large leaves are laid to receive the 
drippings of milk which trickle down. Some do not go 
to the trouble of sweeping the ground or laying down 
leaves, so that the milk becomes mixed with sand, dust, 
decayed leaves, and other impurities. The outer sur- 
face of the bark of the trunk is sliced off to a height of 
four or five feet. The milk then exudes and trickles 
down, some ultimately falling on the ground. After 
several days, the juice becomes solid; and it is then 
pulled off in strings and rolled into balls or put into bags 
in loose masses. Only a thin shaving should be taken 
from the bark, just deep enough to reach the milk ves- 
sels ; but this is not always attended to. Collecting is 
carried on during the dry season only, when rain seldom 
falls. The system of collecting Para rubber varies with 
the different localities and collectors. The following 
methods I quote from Mr. CROSS'S report : " The collec- 
tors begin to work immediately at daybreak, or as soon 
as they can see to move about among the trees. They 
say the milk flows more freely and in greater quantity 
