Balata and the Balata Industry. 203 
used thoughtlessly, or in ignorance of its character, for 
the purpose stated, but it is evident that as it contains 
60 per cent, of perfectly indigestible solid matter, which 
would, if any kind of spirits were drank shortly after- 
wards, coagulate in the stomach, it cannot be wholesome. 
It is in fact a very dangerous liquid to drink, as are all 
the kinds of vegetable milk that contain rubber or gutta 
of any kind, and at least one fatal case among the 
Berbice collectors has occurred from the use of balata 
milk in coffee. 
A gallon of balata milk weighs rather over 10 lbs : the 
collectors, say ioj lbs. Two samples that I obtained 
from separate trees weighed respectively 1C036 and 
10*033 lbs. The proportion of balata in the milk varies 
with the season of the year, for in wet weather the juice 
contains a larger percentage of water than in dry. Dur- 
ing the rainy season collectors estimate the yield per 
gallon at from four to five pounds of pure balata, and in 
the drier parts of the year at from five to six pounds. 
Taking one season through the year with another, it may 
be accepted from the testimony of collectors and the 
following analysis of a sample I brought back with me, 
that balata milk loses less than half its weight in drying. 
Of that sample, 100 parts weight contained : — water 
30/04, balata 6031, mineral matter "65. It was gathered 
in April, when the rain was light, falling only in 
daily showers, and just after the trees had flowered. 
The milk is remarkably white, dazzlingly so in fact. 
After the slight fermentation which takes place when it 
is gathered, which, however, does not alter its character 
or appearance, it will remain unchanged for a long time 
if kept sealed up. In drying by evaporation under ex- 
BB 2 
