Kulawi, Sulawesi, Indonesia

We decided to experiment with the milk latex from the tree we found the other day. The tree was beyond the native village and we found an iron pot in the branches which might have been used for offerings. If this was a sacred tree we hoped the natives would not see us cutting it to get the milk. On evaporating, the product turned out to be a chicle and not a rubber. I lost interest in it but Hugo continued experimenting with the idea that it might make a good chewing gum. By continued evaporation on a water bath we produced a very passable looking wad of chewing gum, the only uncertainty being that it might contain a poisonous ingredient. Hugo tried some and did not feel well afterwards. In any case I did advise Hugo against becoming a chewing gum king.

Hugo went specimen hunting in the afternoon and found some interesting and quite beautiful orchids. I took a walk through the village and stopped to see Mr. Esser on the way back. I found him practicing English by reading American detective stories.