Show GATHERING RUBBER BOTT the natives of the french congo work vorst lt the natives of the french congo cut rubber in march and april the rubber of congo Is not a tree but a vine often three or four inches in diameter and la Is found in the jungle says an exchange natives who scorn to be industrious at all other times ol of the tha year work hard during the season of rubber gathering before the cutters start out the whole village in which they live indulges in a tremendous debauch after which the men strike out boldly into the jungle well laden with food tor for there aro are few edibles in the rubber districts the vines climb up the trees and as only the upper and smaller portions of the vine produce desirable sap the men have to climb to the height ot of the first branches often as much as fifty feet to do their work after the pieces are thrown to the ground they are cut again into lengths of three or tour four feet and are then held over pots so 80 that the juice will run out when a pot is nearly full the juice is boiled down tor for several hours during which time it Is mixed with juices of several other vines which renders the mixture sticky and more easily formed into balls when it is cooled sufficiently to be handled it la is shaped by winding it first around a stick after a while the stick is pulled out and the ball rewound in some cases these balls weigh three or tour four pounds in some others it takes five or six to make one pound the best and purest rubber Is obtained in the shape of bracelets which are mado made by tho natives catching tho the juice as it runs out around the wrists where it is allowed to dry when perfectly set it comes off easily and would bo be transparent it if the negroes negro cs arms and hands were not dirty |