GROUND-NUTS.
Report. ' ' Marseilles, January 1894.
“ Ground-Nuts.—We are doing a large business with
Bombay and Coromandel, and therefore well conversant with
this kind of business. The kernels of -East Africa (Mozambique,
etc.) are much in favour and the best paid. . . .The
article ground-nuts is of the greatest importance for Ou,r
market, and we can safely advise your friends to do business
in this article.”
Valuation. . - “ London, May 1894.
“ Your shipment of ground-nuts has -arrived at Marseilles,
and the report from there is that on examination of the
sample, the kernels .were, found to be of very good quality,
and could be utilized in the drug trade,.which pays better
than the oil trade, and they are valued at 31 francs per 100
kilos, this being the quotation for Mozambique ground-nuts.”
GUM-COPAL, OR ANIMI.
Report.) . . . . . “ .March 1891..
“ Gum Animi, called Copal, from Takaungu District.— Red,
what is understood in London as Zanzibar Animi. The quality
of most of it is good, being pale and strong. . . The value
varies according to size, viz.— '
“ Cleaned Gum.— Bold pale,’ £13 to £14 per cwt.; thumb
pale, £11 ; bold red, £11 ; thumb red, ^8 ; bean and pea,
£6 1 os. to £8 per cwt.
“ White, soft, weak Cum.-h-Vn\uc also according to size ; bold,
£y to A8 ; small, £5 to £6 ; bean and pea, 60s. to 8oj. per cwt.”
INDIARUBBER.
Reports on East A frican Rubber.
“ London, July 1890.
No. I. “ Mozambique character, spun ball clean, but rather
green or white, present value, 2s. 4d. to 2s. 5d. per lb. All
qualities are saleable; but ‘ clean,’ i.e. free from ‘ sand’ , or
‘ dirt,’ are in most request, and consequently of more ready sale.
We should strongly urge on friends in Africa the necessity of
obtaining ‘ clean’ rubber. This class of rubber, ‘ spun ball,’
as represented by your sample, if ‘ red,’ i. e. ‘ strong,’ would
bring 2s. 6d. per lb., our highest value for the moment for the
best Mozambique ball.”
“ December 1890.
No. 2. “We have now tested the sample of Mozambique
‘ ball,’ and congratulate you on the marked improvement it
shows on any samples we have seen of this class of rubber for
some time back. It shows a decided improvement in the care
with which it has been collected; and the curing is also decidedly
better. The only fault we have to find with it is in its
greenness, which will affect its. commercial value ; but that is a
point which can be overcome, and we have hopes that with
still : greater care bestowed, we shall see the rubber come to
market in as good a state as Farà.”
No. 3; “ Indiarubber.— Ball fine, free from sand or wood ; this
quality is very desirable ; so much of the rubber which comes is
so mixed with sand and wood or barky substance, which reduces
the value to a great extent. Such as yours, owing to the
market being very firm, would bring 2s. 5d. to 2s. 6d. per lb.”
“ June 1892."
No. 4. “ There is just one suggestion I would venture to
make, thè importance of which you should not fail to impress
upon your friends, and that is respecting the methods and art of
collecting and curing the rubber milk. The milk should be
gathered and kept in its pure state, and promptly and
thoroughly cured, that is to say daily, this preventing the risk
of decomposition. By such methods a superior result may
be^ obtained, the condition and quality of the production
being very much mòre valuable in the home markets than
most of the present productions, which are badly cured, loaded
with all sorts of impurities ; and besides, very often carrying
10 to 40 per cent, of water.”
“ September 1892.
No. 5. “We are pleased to advise haying sold your rubber
at very high prices, obtaining in each case considerably above
the value that we and our brokers had put upon the shipments,
but little or no difference was made in buyers’ offers between
the parcels from Mombasa and Lamu.”
Indiarubber in the Witu District.
Extract from Report o f District Officer.
“ Lamu, November 1893.
a ^,1 ^ave ¡h| honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter
dated September 26, enclosing copy of one received by you
from the Secretary requesting certain information regarding
the export of indiarubber from this port.