B00 LEGUMINOSZ. 
CAESALPINIA SAPPAN, Linn. 
Fig.—Roxb. Oor. Pl. i. 17, t. 16. The wood. Sappan 
wood (Hng.), Sappan (Fr.). 
Hab.—E. and W. Peninsulas, Pegu. 
Vernacular.—Patang (Hind., Mar.), Vattangi, Vattekku, Var- 
tangi (Tam.), Bokom (Beng.), Okénu-katta, Patanga-katta, 
Bukkapu-chekka (Tel.), Patanga-chekke (Can.), Patang (Guz.). 
History, Uses, &C.—Sappanwood, in Sanskrit Pattanga 
and in Arabic and Persian Bakam, is by some Sanskrit authors 
included among the different kinds of Sandalwood in the same 
manner as the wood of Pterocarpus Santalinus. (Vide P. 
Santalinus.) It is cultivated in the Madras Presidency. When 
a daughter is born in a Thean family, the father plants a cer- | 
tain number of Sappan trees which form her dowry when 
married. Sappan wood is not generally used as a medicine 
either by Hindus or Mahometans, although it is described in — 
their books as being of use to heal wounds and stop hemor- 
rhage from thelungs. Ainslie, however, says that the Vytians 
consider a decoction of the wood as a powerful emmenagogue, 
and remarks that the Cochin-Chinese hold the same opinion. 
In the Bengal Dispensatory, and more recently in the Pharma- 
copaia of India, itis recommended as a substitute for Logwood. 
At the Bombay Government Medical Depdt it has been used 
instead of Logwood for some years. Patang is used as a dye, 
and a very large quantity is consumed in the preparation of — 
Gulal, the red powder which the Hindus cover themselves with 
at the time of the Holi festival. This powder is made by 
exhausting the wood with water, the liquid extract is then 
poured upon Tavakir (arrowroot of Curcuma angustifolia) 
and well mixed by treading it with the feet, alum is then 
added, and the mixture dried and powdered. Some makers — 
also add a little carbonate of soda. vee? aniline reds are 
however often now used instead. | 
—_ Tapa oe ape wood is solid, cco hard and close- 
