Show first use of rubber rubber first came under the notice of europeans its earliest mention occurring in the records of a companion of columbus who ho noted that the natives ot of haiti played games with balls balla made of the gum eum ot of a tree the spaniards 1 in I mexico discovered either on their own on account or from the natives the use of rubber for or waterproofing a ter their cloaks but some centuries elapsed before its utility was recognized in europe it made its first appearance in britain as a curiosity for or erasing pencil marks |