RED SANDERS (Pterocarpus santalinus). ft 



gave its name to the dreaded Sand Bank in the Hughly and was 

 wrecked on September 24, 1694, carried a cargo of Bed wood taken 

 up at Madras. 



" In the letters received from the East India Company from, its 

 servants in the East, 1602-1617, there are numerous references to 

 the various kinds of Sanders wood but they are easily distinguished. 

 The Eed Sanders wood always came from the Madras Coast, and 

 was sent to Europe for dyeing purposes." 



Gamble in his " Manual of Indian Timbers " records that, in 

 the 5 years ending with 1882-83, 12782 tons were exported to the 

 United Kingdoms, 1116 tons to France and 1687 tons to other 

 Indian and Ceylon ports. The whole valued at b\ lakhs of Rupees. 

 From 1882 to 1901 Red Sanders timber and fuel was extracted by 

 contractors for the department without restriction as to the locality 

 from which the produce was to be got. This of course was detri- 

 mental to the forests since little supervision could be exercised by 

 the department over the Contractors. They were permitted to work 

 over extensive areas and helped themselves to the plums. The Act 

 of 1882 was not vigorously enforced and the deterioration of the 

 Forest continued. In 1909, a Timber working-plan for the Sesha- 

 chellams in the East Division was sanctioned. An attempt to work 

 it was made till 1912. It was then proved to be unworkable owing 

 to the impossibility of carrying out its prescriptions with the in- 

 adequate staff sanctioned. During this period unregulated timber 

 fellings took place in the other forests of the District. These 

 fellings were put a stop to in the year 1912-13, since they had 

 degenerated into the extraction of only the best trees from the 

 most promising and accessible localities.'* 



5. Present Condition of the Forest. 



The extraction of Red Sanders wood in the past had not been 

 confined to stem and branch-wood only. The roots were also 

 extracted. It is a matter for surprise that the tree has survived 

 total extermination. The damage done in the past can only be 

 fully appreciated by seeing the present state of the forests. A 

 Mature Red Sanders tree is difficult to find, although old blackened 

 stumps up to 7 feet in girth are still in existence. A large propor- 

 tion of the growth is in the pole stage and a great many trees have 

 been mutilated by fire and by man. It, however, reproduces itself 

 vigorously in coppice by suckers and from seed, and to this innate 

 vigour it owes its existence. 



