Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-08-24
INDIA RuepnR OR GUN SHOES.

N. y journal of Commerce from an American
citizen who visited the interior where the opc-
ration is carried on -
ave found Sehnor Augelcas family, like
himself very hospitable and very laxative. AZ
ter dinner we were shown over the place. and
entering the neghboring forest were shown
the caomichouc tree. They grow, in general,
TO the height OF forty or fifty feet without branch.
es, then branching, run up fifteen feet higher.
The loafis about six inches long---thin, and
shaped like that of peach tree. Tho trees
shew their working by the number of knots, or
lunches made by tapping; and singular fact
ls, that like COW, when most tapped, ;hey give
most milk or sap
As the time of operating is early day, we
were Obliged to content ourselves with viewing
the utensils and mouds used by the shocmakers,
awaiting until next morning To see the modus
operdadi Accordingly before sunrise we
were on hand. The blacks are first sent thro'
the forest, armed with quantity of soft clay,
and a small pickoxc. On coming to one Of the
trees, portion of the soft clay is formed into
cup and stuck TO the trunk. The black then
slTlklnH ms pfh over tlC cup, tilc sup O')Lc6
out slowly-a tree giving daily about gIll
The Taper continues in this way, tapping per-
haps Rhy trees, when he returns, and with jar
passing over the same ground, cnptles his cups.
so by seven o'clock the blacks came in with
their Jars, ready for working.
The sap at this stage resembles milk in mp
pearance, and somewhat in taste. 1t is also
frequently drunk with perfect safety. If left
standing now, II will curdle like milk, olsen
gagng watery substance like whey.
Shoemakers now arrange themselves to form
the gum. Seated in the shude, with large pan
of milk on one side, and on the other q togou, in
which is burned a nut peculiar to this corntry,
emitting dense smoke, the operator having his
last, or form, held by long stick or handle,
previously besmeored with soft clay, Gn order
10 slip off the shoe when finished,) holds it over
the pau, aud pouring on the milk until it is CO.
rered, sets the coating in the smoke then
giving ii second coat repeats the smoking
and SO on with third and fourth, until the shoe
If Of the required thickness, averaging from
six TO twelve coats When finished the shoes
IN the forms are placed in the sun tie remain
der of the day, to dry. Next day. if required,
they may be figured beng so soft that any n-
preston will be indelIby received. The ma
tlves are very deXterous IN this work With u
quill and sharp pointed stick, they will produce
finely lined leaves and flowers, such as you may
have seen on the shoes, III an incredible short
space Of time. After remaining on the forms
Two or three days the shoes are cut open on t"p,
allowing the last 10 slip out. They are theu
tied together and slune on poles, ready for mar
ket There, pedlars and Jews trade for them
with the country people and in lots of thou.
sand or more, they again sold TO the mer-
chants, who have them stuffed with straw, and
packed in boxes to export, in which state they
are received in the L. 5. In the same manner
any shape may be manufactured. Thus toys
made over clay forms. After drying the clay
IL broken and extracted. Bottles, &c, in the
same way. According as the gum grows Older
1t becomes darker in color, and more tough
The number of Caoutchouc trees in this pro
vince is countless In some parts whole for
ests OF them exist, and they are frequently Gu
down for 6rewood. Although this tree exists
in Mexico and the East Indies, there appears
to be no importation into the United States
from those places. The reason I suppose mus
be- the want Of that p,olificness found in then
here
The caouthhouc tree may be worked all til,
year, but generally in the wet season they hav
rest, owing 10 the flooded state Of the woods
and the milk being watery, requires more t
manufacture the same article than in the DIR
season. This to these very reasoning people
is sufficient to deter them from working in win
ter; extra labor giving them unpleasant fee
ings."
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