Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-12

BR.zTIIAN METHOD OF MhKIS6 IyDIA RUBBER
narrow n stream that the dense wall of ve.-eta-
ton towering upon both side- keeps it in per-
penal Wright. and the absolute silence of the
p-ifn.vGi soatrie il mourGfUlly oppressive
sErTc>c 'ae hClf-~avage guides. who certainly
loos cal able o. any atrCcity. should conclude
II were better uayIng business 10 rob and muir
der tho 'Et--e=. what in the world was there
- p-rV,-t thcm: We thought OF the harrow
Irs "N perlence- Of Madame GOdi: des Odonais
n these - ne Wild o: which / must tell you
i.nOnl, all! Of the thousands of eNplorers whose
hearts were fired with missionary zeal. or love
OF nature. search for the tabled FL Dorado
or greed of gold and conquest. who have periShed
mi-e-abiy here-aud there il none 10 tell their
story. We remembered Capt Mayne Reds tree
dwelling savnge-. who delight to puncture
Anazonisn travellers with poisoned arrows
sh"i from blow guns; and the monster
se-pents OF the came author which
IL In wait upon overhanging branches
and swallow them. boats and all But in our
expedition IL Turned out that there was an al
mt DISAPPOINTING dearth 81 perilous ad-
venture and no; a single ''hairbreadth 'seape'
TO chronicle. The Indians we encountered
despite their unprepossessing appearance
proved % be the most dOcile gentle and tract
abb Of creatures. and probably the aerial savages
and mau--wallpwIng snakes. Disguised with the
Increasing frequency OF human INVASION have
retired farther into the wilderness.
TIE RUBBER Trade
The following facts, stated briefly as possible,
are summary Of the information we have
Picsed ny II Brazil from divers sources rela-
tive 90 the rubber trade. Like other industries
In various parts Of the world. IL appears to be
controlled BY capital on the scripturaI plan of
80 h;In that hath shall be given while the
aetuAi toi.ers very poorly paid for their
labor. Hereabput- il Is customary for a wealthy
man 70 ob.aIH grant Of land OF greater or less
extent according 10 his political influence and
financial powers Of persuasion. with the exclu-
ave night % gathering rubber thereon for a
stated number OF years. The entire river trade
oil the Amazon Il run on the credit system
THSRURBxR HUNTERS.
who are mostly Indians. are fitted ont by their
employers much as American miners used TO be
supplied with grub stake in their search for
precious metals. Each hunter before he sets
forth on a fresh Journey Is provided with pnp
a.r;sntity OF ammunition. blanket hammock
ard enough provisions to sustain him from
two to sir months. all OF which is charged 10
Lis account AZ the highest market price and in
return he stipulates TO sell 10 this same accom-
In,'lsting dealer at some fixed sum per pound
a. the rubber he may collect during his trim
after payiug what he owes for the outfit But
he seldom get- the debt paid up. and according
90 the Laws of Brazil as long as he owes a penny
the man To whom he Is indebted can claim him
Tor work, holidays aud all. in "a bondage akin 70
s-Ayery. They are engaged. In the first place.
Tor q term Of years. and the majority of hunters
n Consequence Of their debts and propensity to
e-tnk mp all available cash in the form Of chicha
ars practically never released nom the contract
.Tsx ExCgASGE.
Inr employers. in their turn. are bound TO be
" 'ioet 10 the small traders in the river towns.
70 whom they sell the rubber. They pay abb
snrdly high prices for inferior goods and get
pise for the product OF the enterprise rs COM
pared 20 the price Of r1bbor when !; gets out Of