192 TlMEHRI, 
pared much in the same way, only in their case the fruit 
is split in two, and the pith and seeds then removed. In 
being divided some of them crack and break unequally, 
but all the pieces large enough to hold any milk at all 
worth considering are saved for use. For carrying, the 
calabashes are threaded together by a hole bored just 
under the rim ; but sometimes they are taken in a bag. 
These are generally the only appliances required in 
the forest for collecting, but in some cases ladders are 
used for reaching higher up the trunks of trees that are 
bled standing than the collectors could reach from the 
ground. These are made on the spot when required. 
They are very rough and temporary constructions, con- 
sisting of two poles from ten to twenty, or rarely thirty, 
feet long, connected by two or more crossbars, the steps 
being tied on or made of bush rope laced to and fro. 
From their rickety character accidents sometimes occur 
in using them, and sprained limbs or ribs are the results. 
For drying the balata at the settlements shallow trays 
are employed. They are made of wood, are four 
inches deep, eighteen to twenty-four inches wide, and 
two to four feet long. The joints are sealed to pre- 
vent leakage by drying a film of balata over them. 
Oil, grease, or soap is then rubbed over the surface to 
prevent the milk sticking as it dries. At stations where 
balata is largely purchased special drying sheds are 
erected. These are span-roofed thatched buildings, 
with open sides. A floor, about two or three feet from 
the ground, is made of crossbeams upon which the trays 
stand. Down the middle a passage is left so that each 
tray can be conveniently reached for taking off the 
sheets of balata as they dry, either from the inside or 
