348 DOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. XXI.—B. P. 
baucheries, dancing, drinking, and gambling, until the 
dealer intimates to them that their departure cannot 
be delayed any longer. All their traps are now em¬ 
barked, and under the blowing of conch-shells, cow- 
horns, and the shouts of friends, the canoes shove off 
laden to the water’s edge. The men have often to 
paddle some distance before they arrive at their desti¬ 
nation,—passing great rapids, and being frequently 
compelled to unload their canoes and drag them along 
by sheer main force. When arrived at their goal, their 
first object is to build a hut to live in, beds being made 
on stages raised a few feet above ground. A shanty 
to work under is also built, if possible, as close as 
practicable to the river, a great quantity of water 
being required in the manufacture of the rubber. 
After an early breakfast, the men go to work, each 
carrying a machete, a tin can capable of holding 
about five gallons, and one or two wooden pails. As 
soon as the Ulero has selected his tree, he clears the 
surrounding ground of underwood and the stems of 
vines and epiphytical plants, and makes a ladder by 
tying pieces of cane two feet long to some of the 
tough vines about an inch and a half in diameter 
hanging from the tree. All this preliminary work 
gone through, the Ulero cuts diagonal channels in 
the bark of the tree, first from his right side, then 
from his left, so that both meet in the middle. At 
the bottom of the lowest channel an iron spout, 
about four inches long and two inches wide, is driven, 
underneath which a pail is put. By the time he 
has done cutting channels he has to hurry down, 
