162 FIREWOOD OF NILGIRI HILLS. 



of fuel, by employing improved kitchen ranges, and substituting 

 peat in part for wood. The regulation allowance of fuel, I believe, 

 is 3 lbs. per man. I understand that an improved range has 

 been lately invented by a Capt. Grant in England, whereby a 

 very large saving is effected. Dr Duff, at Madras, has also pro- 

 duced a range which greatly economises fuel ; and I would urge 

 the employment of either of these at the barracks instead of the 

 common open range now used. I would also make it a condition 

 of the bakery and other contracts, where much fuel is used, that 

 these inexpensive ranges should be used by the contractors. It 

 is obviously unwise to continue the present ranges, which con- 

 sume so much fuel, when we are pressed for wood, and are in 

 other ways trying to economise it. These remarks apply more 

 to the mainguard, hospital, and barracks, than to the " married 

 quarters," where the open range probably has greater advantages. 

 21. As the price of wood will, to a certain extent, be increased 

 by the alterations proposed, the residents will necessarily have 

 recourse to the use of peat,* which was strongly advocated by 

 Lord Harris in his " Minute on the Nilgiri Hills." I would re- 

 commend the early adoption of measures tending to the econo- 

 mical employment of this indigenous fuel. 



H. Cleghokn. 



Extract Order on the foregoing Letter. 



20th March 1860, No. 425. 

 7. "When recently at Utakamand, the Hon. the President (Sir 

 C. Trevelyan) gave careful attention to this subject, and dis- 

 cussed it fully with the conservator, as well as with numerous resi- 



* Peat in large quantity exists, and may be purchased at a reasonable 

 rate ; and if a proportion of this was used in houses with the wood, the ex- 

 penditure of the latter would be much lessened, and the total cost to the 

 consumer considerably reduced. Turf fuel is now cut and stacked in seve- 

 ral places close to the station, and is to be had at the rate of Rs. 2 or 2J per 

 cart-load. It burns well and makes a cheerful fire, especially when mixed 

 with wood. 



