Balata and the Balata Industry. 193 
outside of the building. Where a smaller quantity is 
dried, the trays are arranged around the open sides of 
the dwelling houses, kitchens, &c, just inside the eaves- 
Two or three feet above the trays horizontal wooden 
bars or lines of bush rope are stretched on which the 
sheets of balata are hung to drip as they are taken out 
of the trays, when the underside is still in a milky fluid 
state. When the milk accumulates faster than the 
means for drying will accommodate it, barrels are used to 
receive it till the trays become vacant. 
Having described now all the tools and appliances 
used in collecting and drying balata, we will follow the 
collectors to the collecting ground. In dealing with 
the trees, two methods are practised : in the first 
they are tapped standing ; in the second they are 
felled before they are tapped. Judging by the appear- 
ance of the forest, in past years, the first mentioned 
system seems to have been that generally followed ; but 
now the same trees which were then bled and left 
growing, are being felled for the milk which could 
otherwise only be obtained, and that partially, by the 
use of ladders, and with difficulty. I will describe first 
the former method. On reaching the collecting ground 
the collector looks around, and, if possible, selects 
a place for the day's operations where the trees 
stand within easy reach of each other. Dropping his 
load of calabashes and goobees on the ground, he chips a 
bit of bark from the tree selected, and after satisfying 
himself, which is done instantly, that the milk will run 
well, he quickly shaves the moss and rough bark from 
the side he intends to tap. Then stooping down with 
his back to the front of the tree, but on one side of it, he 
AA 
