( 12 )
The strength of the affected jails is 12,023, the percentage of admissions
to strength 3.45, and of deaths to admissions 37. Of the 415 admissions
there were 5 in January, 7 in February, 22 in March, 138 in April, 23 in May,
21 in June, 41 in July, 24 in August, 21 in September, 74 in October, 36 in
November, and 3 in December.
Taking all the figures together, the monthly prevalence of the disease is
shown on the accompanying diagram. On the map are marked the districts
above shown to have been affected with cholera in 1865.
From the above data the cholera of 1865 in this province appears to have
been very generally distributed over its whole area. But the statistics of
cholera among the troops and jail populations afford no correct indication of
the prevalence of the disease among the civil populations. For instance, the
cholera mortality in the jails of the Orissa districts, viz., Balasore 1 admis-
sion only and no death, and Pooree 5 admissions and 3 deaths, hardly
indicates much prevalence of the disease. In 1865 the rainfall in the Lower
Provinces was generally capricious, irregular, and scanty. The fall in inches
registered at the Surveyor-General's Office, Calcutta, is shown in the subjoined
statement in comparison with that of the preceding year and the monthly
average of the five years from 1860 to 1864 : —
Mouths.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Total
Average of five years —
1860 to 1864.
0.32
0 35
0.88
1 77
5.93
15.64
13.29
14.71
10.68
6.76
1.71
0.09
72.13
Monthly fall in
1864.
0.00
0.47
1.84
1.11
10.36
18.73
13.09
16.64.
12.59
6.50
2.89
0.00
84.22
Monthly fall in
1865.
0.48
1.86
1.96
4.28
15.94
8.63
12 19
5 99
10.25
0.00
?
?
61 58
The deficiency of the fall up to end of October in 1865 is thus shown
to be no less than 10.55 inches as compared with the average of the previous
five years for the same period, that is 61.58 against 72· 13. The figures also
show an excess of 15.27 inches during the first five months of the year as
compared with the same average fall in those months, that is 9.25 inches
against 24.52, and a deficiency in the hot weather monsoon rainfall, in the
months of June to October of 25.73 inches, that is 37.06 inches against the
average of 62.79. Throughout the year the rainfall was remarkably local and
partial, rain having, for instance, repeatedly fallen in Chowringhee and not
in the town of Calcutta, and vice versâ. In some parts of the country, as
Faridpur, Pubna, Tipperah, and parts of Hugli district it was alleged that
the crops were drowned in the early rains. This would seem to shew that
the rainfall statistics of Calcutta may be taken as a fair guide to the rain-
fall of the provinces generally.
In the subjoined statement are shown the prices of the principal food-
grains in sers per rupee from the 20th to 25th November 1865 together
with the ordinary prices at that season in the several districts of the Bengal
Province. The ordinary prices are placed first in this list :—
Station.
Goalpara
.
...
Kamrup
. .
Bhagalpur
Darjiling
.
.
Monghyr
Purniah
Deogarh
Rajmahal
Bankura
Beerbhum
Bardwan
.
Coarse rice.
16
25½
20½
11 11 / 16
23
35½
32
?
26½
26
20 5 / 8
13
16
11 3 / 4
8
12 5 / 8
14
17
12
17½
13*
13 1 / 16
Pulses.
20
18
22¼
6 5 / 8
31
33
32
?
20
?
19¼
15
20
12½
6 1 / 8
10½
14
13
12
17½
14 7 / 16
12
Wheat.
20
25½
15½
?
22
25
25
?
16
20
3 1 / 16
13
16
l2 5 / 8
?
12 5 / 8
H
12
?
11 ¼
10½
9 5 / 8
Flour (wheat).
8
8
12 5 / 8
7½
16
18
?
?
11
15
9
5
8
8|
5 3/16
8|
6
?
10
8
8¼
7 ¼