The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-05-11
FOREIGN.
BosToN, May Z.
FROM CALCUTTA.

fhOM 0ALCOII
By the ship Bengal, from Calcutta, we have
received papers TO the Dab Of Jan. from which
the following articles are extracted
CALCUTTA, Jan. 9,
The accounts from Madras are Of . distress
ing nature, and have come upon Us with a
suddenness which renders the horror more stri-
king We are prepared to expect scarcity of
Grain on the Coast, but had not the most dis
tant ides Of the extent TO which the failure oil
the crops had reached. Madras and the sur
rounding Country is in state Of famine. In
dependently Of the accounts we publish TO day
from Madras papers, private letters all agree
too infinitely 10 the distressing details, for Us
to doubt q second that the most dreadful eff
iects are TO be apprehended. 1t is stated thai
even dread Of Arms Of the Military, who
are necessarily placed al The Godowns where
the Rice is distributed, is scarcely sufficient TO
prevent depredations. Parents are abandon
ing their children, and several have already
died from absolute starvation. This is but the
commencement of the appalling consequences
of famine. Disease is sure to follow, and al
though we are certain that every possible
means within the power of government will
be employed 10 lessen the effects Of this dire
gal public will not be withheld.
MADRAS, Dec. %.
It's with regret that we notice the increas-
ing distress prevalent among the natives
from the scarcity Of rice 10 the bazars it is
not 10 be procured, and only one Bankshall IS
now open for its sale, consequently The rush Of
the people 10 obtain portion of this small
supply isdrerdful. and the North Beach is COW
cred with hundreds, waiting with the faint
hone OF being al last fortunate enough 10 reach
its door. Many European gentleman are seen
mingled with the crowd, endeavouring to pro-
cure grain for their servants, which after hay-
| ing succeeded, the difficulty of carrying il a
way IN safety is considerable, as the right Of
the strongest, the only law Of necessity, seems
universally acknowledged. Some few mer-
chants are dealing out their stock Of rice scan
/ tily and secretly during the middle of the
night, 10 avoid the scene Of confusion and
violence attendant on a public sale of it
Grain Of the worst and oldest description is
bought up with avidty. and many are reduced
TO snbsist on Grain this even is not TO be
purchased except il small quantities, and at
enormous prices. Several deaths have occur
red amongst the lower order of the natives
which have been occasioned by starvation,
and so miserable IS their condition that many
chiidrea have in despair been abandoned by
their parents.
The inhabitants Of Pondcherry we regret
to learn are also sufferers for the want OF
food. We can now no longer indulge the ex-
pectation that fall Of rain may yet save the
harvest Of the coming year, as we understand
from those acquainted with the subject that
the Crops are already destro, ed we howev-
Ter sincerely hope that plentiful supplies from
Bengal and the Northward will soon reach
his port to obviate the distressing effects of
scarcity, which presses so severely on all class
es Of the native population.
Dec. 25.
On Monday night. vast multitude assem-
bed in the Black Town, and proceeded to
break open some Of the RiCe Stores belong
ing 10 Native Merchants, which were plum
Idered and much grain carried of.-Gnards Of
Native Trnops were sent 70 protect property
Of this description the moi however behav-
OIL in a most daring and outrageous manner
taw%E,,s the Serovs-whie the latter, we M
derstand acted with the greatest forbearance.
umier very trying COMMUNICATIVE Of the
m,an however sre reported 70 be wounded. and
one killed. tits imagined that no less than
100000 persons were collected.