Alaska sentinel., 1908-08-13
GATHERING INDIA.RUBBER
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 Indla-rubber has curious history in the arts. Its common name was given to 1t because 1t was first used for re moving pencil marks from paper. It Is produced in the most tropical lands. The use of 1t has increased until 1t forest products of the world. It has be- come In many parts of the world an article of civilization, but the native forests of the Amazon basin and of the Congo, in Africa, are still the source of the worlds greatest supply. The quantity has been greatly increased in later years, for the production has been stimulated by the advance in price. Interesting facts In regard to the industry In the Amazon region are country and familiar with its produc- tions.
 As the steamer moves along, the tray- aler on the Amazon, or on any of It's numerous navigable tributaries, will mo- tice little wisps of smoke rising from the banks of the river. This smoke, which Is quite characteristic of the most fertile river banks, indicates the places where the natives are treating the sap of the rubber tree to prepare it for the market
 The business of collecting and pre- pairing rubber Is carried on extensively In the valley of the Amazon. There are districts of from forty to fifty square miles owned and operated by one per son. The rubber trees are scattered more or less plentifully among other trees that yield no profit as yet. When a man has secured a large tract of forest land for the industry he puts up a rough shelter upon 1t, and engages all the Indians of the neigh borhood. men and women, to help him in the work.
 They start out early In the morn ing to make the rounds of the estate, for they must get back to the riverside before the heat of the day becomes too great. They tap the trees afresh If they need 1t, attach the little tin cups for catching the sap, and bring home whatever sap may have been collected.
 The sap of the rubber tree is a per fectly white liquid of the consistency of goats milk. It Is necessary that 1t be converted Into a solid. This Is effected by the action of a pungent smoke which coagulates, or curdles, the milky fluid. For this use the seeds of two different kinds of palm are em. ployed. Nothing else will answer the purpose.
 The seeds are put in an earthen jar which has narrow neck, the bottom of which Is perforated with a number of square holes. In this the palm nuts are burned; the holes in the bottom of the jar admit a draft and cause a dense smoke to issue from the neck. This Is the smoke seen from the deck of the steamer.
 The operator takes q paddle similar to that which he paddles his canoe and holds the blade of 1t over the Jar. Upon 1t he pours the milky juice cup by cup. all the time turning the blade so as to bring all parts of It into the smoke. The fluid Is instantly fixed, and ad- heres to the wood or to the rubber al. ready formed. This process goes on until solid lump is formed that will weigh perhaps sixteen pounds. When the lump has grown large enough for handling slit Is cut in 1t, and the blade is drawn out. A mass of rubber is left ready for exportation. It is the smoke used In coagulating the sap that gives the crude rubber the dark appearance which Is familiar. The natives who collect the rubber have little use for 1t at home They have no pencilings to erase, wear no rain coats, have no mills to be SUD- piled with belting, nor automobiles that require rubber tires. They do, how ever, make playthings for their chil- dren by pouring the sap into clay molds of birds, animals and fishes, and then crushing the clay and removing 1t.
 Two Horse Tales.
 An Albanian who had been in an