The sailors of his ship had made a rubber woman for themselves to while away the time and satisfy the desires they felt during their six or seven months at sea. The woman had been beautifully made and gave them a perfect illusion. The sailors loved her. They took her to bed with them. She was made so that each aperature could satisfy them. She had the qulity that an old Indian had once attributed to his yong wife: Soon after their marriage, his wife was the mistress of every young man in the hacienda. The master called the old Indian to inform him of the scandalous conduct of his young wife and adviced him to watch over her better. The Indian shook his head skeptically and answered: "Well, I don't see why I should worry my head so much. My wife is not made of soap, she will not wear out."

So it was with the woman made of rubber. The sailors found her untiring and yielding - truly a marvelous companion. There were no jealousies, no fights between them, no possessiveness. The rubber woman was very much loved. But in spite of her innocence, her pliant good nature, her generosity, her silence, in spite of her faithfulness to her sailors, she gave them all syphilis.