114 On the Manufacture of Bar Iron in India. 



beating and sifting, for about 2 rupees a ton. The iron 

 sand is, however, the most universally diffused ore in India, 

 and is found in almost every nullah South of the Toom- 

 buddra ; and as a single man can collect and wash a 

 bullock load, or 200 pounds, in one day without much trou- 

 ble, it may be procured in any quantity for about the same t 

 expense as the magnetic iron ore ; and perhaps the cost 

 might be mucb decreased, either by washing the sand by 

 machinery, or by separating the pure ore from the silicious 

 sand by electro-magnets. 



27. It is not easy to form a correct estimate of the ex- 

 pense of firewood and charcoal, but I find that where wood 

 is plentiful, it can be procured at 1 anna for 300 pounds, and 

 charcoal at 2 annas for 100 pounds. But as a single man 

 can cut and faggot 800 pounds of wood in a day, 1 J rupee 

 a ton would be more than the cost, including carriage for 

 five miles ; and if charcoal is required, the wood can be car- 

 bonised at very little additional expense, if conical ovens 

 of brick-work are employed. 



28. As a locality for a manufactory to supply the demand 

 of the interior parts of India, along the Himalayas to Simla ; 

 in the Deyra-Dhoon in Candeish ; the Mahabilishwur Hills ; 

 the whole range of the Western Ghauts in Travancore, Coim- 

 batore, Salem, North Arcot, Cuddapah along the Western 

 verge of the Gundwana mountains ; in Singboom and Bogli- 

 poor; there is hardly a spot which would not answer for 

 a manufactory of very considerable size. 



29. To open an export trade in iron for the supply of the 

 English market, a manufactory would require to be orga- 

 nised upon an extensive scale ; and must be situated adja- 

 cent to the sea shore, or near water carriage, to avoid the 

 expense of inland carriage over the bad roads of India. As 

 a locality for this purpose, Hoonoor on the Western Coast 

 would perhaps answer, or Travancore, or Trincomallee.in 

 Ceylon, where fuel is abundant ; or in Cuttack where iron ore, 



