Balata and the Balata Industry. 187 
and not infrequently much hardship. They undertake, 
as I have shown, long and lonely journeys through un- 
known and deep untrodden forest ; they are constantly 
wet, always ill-clad for exposure, and often short of food ; 
they suffer much from rheumatism brought on by priva- 
tions and exposure, which after a few years becomes 
chronic in cases and quite disables them from continuing 
the life. When two or three travel in company they 
communicate with each other by whistling in the hollow 
iron handle of their cutlasses, and have concerted signals, 
which thus given are mutually understood. The shrill 
sound of this whistle can be heard a long distance in the 
silent forest. When the collecting ground is not too 
distant women sometimes accompany the men, and cook 
or assist in laying out the calabashes and collecting the 
milk, while the men fell and ring the trees. In the sea- 
sons when the balata cannot be collected, the collectors 
seek other employment such as timber cutting when that 
is available, but more often they take the time easy and 
live on their past earnings, till favourable weather returns 
again. They seem to labour, however, with no sustained 
idea of saving money, beyond a few pounds which may 
be either intended for getting married, building a house, 
or having a good spree on their return home at the ex- 
piration of their engagement. Beyond some such con- 
tingent object their forethought does not extend. Even 
during the working season, they generally rest one or 
two days a week as well as Sunday. With the present 
means of living their ambition ends. 
The collectors connected with a grant, I have said, sell 
their milk to the agent on the grant, and never dry it 
themselves. Those who are not so connected, either 
z 2 
