The Ficus Elastica in Burma Proper or a Narrative of My Journey in Search of It (Classic Reprint): A Descriptive Account of Its Habits of Growth and ... Preparation of Caoutchouc (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

G. W. Strettell

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1332301606 ISBN 13: 9781332301607

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Unlock the mysteries of a rubber tree and the people who work it in Burma. Follow a narrator’s journey through Burma Proper as he observes the Ficus elastica, its growth, and the specialized craft that turns sap into caoutchouc. This account blends natural history with field notes on tapping, processing, and the conditions that shape value in the home market.

Delving into practical detail without the fluff, the book explains how season, tree age, and careful incision influence yield and quality. It highlights how careless preparation can spoil caoutchouc, and why the emulsion’s watery portions must be fully expelled for the pure, marketable product. The narrative also captures the people, places, and tools involved in early rubber production, offering a grounded view of work, climate, and trade in 19th-century Burma.

What you’ll experience
- A clear description of tapping timing, incision placement, and how these choices affect sap flow and tree health.
- Plain explanations of how improper processing can cause foul odors or honey-combed masses that ruin the product.
- Observations on local practices, including the roles of the Kakhyens and insights from contemporary government reports.
- Context for the practical challenges of turning natural resources into high-value goods.

Ideal for readers of travel, natural history, and historical accounts of Burma, science in the field, and the rubber trade.

About this title

Product Description

Excerpt from The Ficus Elastica in Burma Proper or a Narrative of My Journey in Search of It: A Descriptive Account of Its Habits of Growth and the Process Followed by the Kakhyens in the Preparation of Caoutchouc

Thayetmyo, - both places being ina measure associated with the duty deputed to me. I shall also notice a few of the more interest ing places passed en route, and describe the process of box-making at Nyoun-goo, the general impression being at present that the articles are lacquer-ware, which is erroneous.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1332301606
• ISBN 13: 9781332301607
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 247