[VANDOO]

THE SAME PITCH USED TO CAULK CRACKS, PROTECT ROPES AND GEAR FROM MOISTURE ON SAILING SHIPS IS OFTEN USED TO WATERPROOF AND SECURE BLADES AS WELL AS WOVEN CORDS ON WEAPONS. NATIVE AMERICANS USED NATURALLY OCCURRING PETROLEUM FOUND IN SEEPS ON ROCK FACES OR POOLS OR TAR BALLS FROM BEACHES. ASPHALT OCCURS NATURALLY IN QUITE A FEW PLACES AND WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE AND YIELD GOOD ADHESIVES. THE LABEREA TAR PITS IN CALIFORNIA AS WELL AS OTHER SEEPS COME TO MIND AND NO DOUBT WERE TO BE FOUND HERE AND THERE. IT WORKED WELL FOR SEALING BASKETS TO HOLD LIQUIDS AS WELL AS TO SECURE POINTS OR WATERPROOF GEAR. NO DOUBT THESE NATURALLY OCCURRING SEEPS WERE AVAILABLE IN MANY AREAS AND PROCESSED AND USED FOR MANY THINGS BY MANY SOCIETY'S.
I BELIEVE THE SAP (RAW LATEX) FROM THE RUBBER TREES WERE PROBABLY PROCESSED AND USED FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES. THERE WOULD BE MINERAL , VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL ADHESIVES AND GLUES FROM MANY SOURCES USED. PERHAPS SOMEONE FROM AUSTRALIA COULD ENLIGHTEN US ON THE PREPARATION OF SPINIFEX GRASS AND GUM TREE RESINS USED BY THE ABORIGINALS.
ADHESIVES THAT WERE WATERPROOF SEEM TO BE PREFERRED ESPECIALLY ON WEAPONS OR TOOLS THAT WOULD SEE A LOT OF USE. I HAVE DUG UP LUMPS OF BLACK ADHESIVE IN OLD INDIAN CAMPS SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS OLD. I HAVEN'T TESTED THEM BUT SUSPECT THEY ARE NATURAL PETROLEUM/TARS WHICH ARE HIGH IN PARAFFIN AND WATERPROOF.