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A letter from Alexander Hunter (qv), Superintendent of the Madras School of Industrial Arts, to Thomas Pycroft, Chief Secretary to Government, dated 17 December 1861, describes ethnographical photographs taken by Blake for government:
With reference to the proceedings of the Madras Government, in the Public Department, dated 3rd December 1861, forwarding 66 photographs of Chensoowars from the Kurnool District to be mounted and the names printed underneath.
I have the honor to forward the photographs as requested. As regards the charge made by Mr Blake for each impression, I think it is too high and that 1 Rupee 8 Annas for each would be sufficient for those sent from up country of this size; the charge proposed to be made for those in the School of Industrial Arts is 1 Rupee for each copy mounted and with the name printed. The price of chemicals at up country stations is dearer than in Madras, but I consider that the price specified, viz., Rupees 1-8 is sufficient for each copy.
Pycroft accepted Hunter's recommendation, and authorised payment to Blake of 126 Rupees for 'the 63 copies referred to in his (Mr Minchin's) letter of the 21st ultimo, no. 32, being at the rate of two Rupees a copy...[1]
Λ Madras Public Proceedings, 13 January 1862, no. 57, IOR/P/49/78 p. 21.