Balata

Balata, a valuable substitute for guttapercha, being not only ductile but, like caoutchouc, elastic. It is the gum of one or more species of Mimusops, trees belonging to the order Sapotaceae, natives of Guiana and the West Indies, and is obtained by incisions in the bark. It was introduced in 1859, but the supply is limited. The name has been corrupted into bullet and bully.