Sees a version of the ball game being played at Montezuma.

Began writing ‘Apologetica Historia de las Indias’ (published 1875!) in which he mentions rubber balls and claims that Columbus brought one to Seville.

Returned to Spain with two teams of ball players. (some say this is what confused la Casas.

First mention of rubber (gummi Optima) in print.

Describes Aztec religious rites involving rubber.

Describes the N American Indian ball game (Batey).Some balls light in weight – blown rubber?

Commissioned an Aztec account of Mexican history.

An unknown noble wrote down the myths of Mayan creation much relates to the twins Hunahpu and Xbalanque (also known as the Sun and Venus) and how they outwitted the ‘Lords of earth’ by their skill at pok-ta-pok (one name for the ball game). The book is the ‘Popol Voh’.

The first person to describe the Mexican rubber tree from first hand observation.

Obtained Spanish version of Mendoza’s document (1549) and Lok translated it into English. Inter alia it mentions rubber balls being paid as tribute.

Writes of Haitian ball game and Mexican trees which can which can be cut to yield ‘milk’ which gives rubber.

Translated Peter of Angiera’s 1530 book into English.

Taught how to waterproof cloth and make dipped goods by Indians. Also described the use of rubber distillate as medicine to be taken internally.

Jesuits founded Santarem, 500 miles inland on the Amazon / Tapajos confluence – home later of Henry Wickham.

Associated “Cachuc”, which in the Kechua language relates to demon worship and magic, with rubber (liquid obtained from a tree.

First appearance of gutta percha in the UK – called ‘Mazer Wood’. Gutta percha is a Malay word.

Described how Indians “milked” trees for liquid to waterproof fabrics. The ndians called the tree “HEVA” and the gum from the liquid “CAHUTSCHU”. He used the word “latex” to describe the “milk” or sap from the tree.

Realised the potential of the material and infected France with enthusiasm for rubber research. The problem was that latex could not be shipped to Europe without ‘going bad’ and solidifying.

Discovered the only ‘hevea braziliensis’ in French Guiana which led to much confusion!!

Presented his and Fresneau’s work to Paris Academy of Science.

The King of Portugal sent boots to Para to be waterproofed.

Discovered turpentine an ideal solvent for rubber. He told Minister Bertan who ‘leaked’ information to two professional Scientists, Herrisant and Macquer.

Worked and published separately on rubber solvents and obtained perhaps undeserved credit (see 1942).

First references to rubber in the UK. Purchased latex(?) in London and sent two rubber balls to John Canton.

Replaced turps with ether and cast strong films which were not sticky. Also made tubing on wax formers and suggested catheters as a possible product.

Made riding boots for Frederic the Great by multiple dipping process.

Started to sell cubes of rubber from his artists’ shop as pencil erasers.

Noted that Nairne sold a ½ inch cube of material for erasing pencil marks for 3 shillings. He called it “INDIA RUBBER” having found from whence it came.

Interested in rubber – asked Minister Bertan to write to Fresneau (now in retirement in SW France) asking for all the information he had on rubber. Perhaps this was the initiation of the modern rubber industry?

(Also called ‘Magellan’) ’discovered’ the same thing five years later.

Proposed catheters reinforced with silk-coated spirally-wound wire and then coated with rubber from solution.

Wrote of constructing rubber tubing by sticking together freshly cut surfaces of rubber – much stronger than solution tubing and, without knowing it, the principle which made Hancock’s masticater work (Fresneau was aware of this stickiness but his comments were not published until later).

First Thesis (or book) solely on rubber (to University of Utrecht). Concludes that the various Amazonian botanists were writing about more than just one ‘rubber’ tree. He refers to many medical applications including catheters.

First mention of rubber coating balloon fabrics.

First hydrogen-filled balloon. The fabric was rubber-proofed oiled silk.

Wrote of the indigenous Mexican rubber industry and of the ‘Ule tree’ from which the latex came. Noted that acetic acid coagulated the latex to give a clean solid rubber.

First patent referring to rubber – solution for treating canvas before oil painting.

Wrote of 20 years research with the new solvent ‘naphtha’ and its excellent solvent properties for rubber.

Re-discovered Fresneau/Ingenhousz’ processes for building ‘cut’ tubing – added a ‘heat-sealing’ process.

Patented waterproofing of many fabrics with rubber solution. Suggested latex could be similarly used.

Stabilised latex with alkali.

Developed an instrument for gas inhalation using ‘Gossart’ tubing.

Laminated two layers of chamois leather with a latex adhesive to give bags strong enough to transport mercury across the Atlantic.

Charles Goodyear born.

May have made ebonite by passing chlorine into a solution of rubber in carbon disulphide – a white inelastic mass.

Probably the first ‘Rubber Factory’ (to make elastic bands) built near Paris.

Suggested alkali-stabilised latex could be shipped to Europe.

Classified a rubber-producing vine.

Founded John Bright & Bros to supply cloth and fabric for rubber belting manufacturers.

Started a rubber goods factory in Vienna.

Probably the first rubber-insulated cable used for underwater telegraphy experiments.

He used similar a similar cable to explode mines underwater.

Gum elastic varnish – first US patent which mentions rubber.

Patent for making inflatable articles from rubber interior-coated fabrics – beds, cushions etc.

Proposed a substance from coal tar be used as a rubber solvent – cheap and readily available with the new gas lighting.

Manufactured curved catheters with excellent surface finishes.