Unlike plastic, which is artificial, rubber is a natural product. It is made from
latex, a white liquid found in certain plants, especially the Para rubber tree. This
the originally came from the Amazon forests in Brazil. The Indians of that area used
the latex from the rubber tree to make statues, cups, and shoes. When latex was
discovered by Europeans, they soon found many uses for it. For example, an
Englishman named Charles Mackintosh invented a way to make waterproof
rainwear with latex. His method is no longer used, but even today, many people in, England