It was built at the peak of the rubber boom, in the belle époque style, and it's still in wonderful condition.

However, sugar, cotton, tobacco, cocoa, and, during the turn-of-the-century rubber boom, rubber were also important.

It reflects a period of traumatic conflict with outsiders during the 19th and early 20th century rubber boom/oil exploration.

The rubber boom at the turn of the 19th century was a case in point.

Settlers were attracted to the area only around the start of the 20th century, as a result of the rubber boom.