The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-04-16
FAMINE IN INDIA.

BOMBAY, India), Feb. IL, 1S61.-The en-
crossing subject of thought here is the famine.
1t is the topic of conversation in the country,
and it is feared will prove most terrible catasro-
phe of modern times, which it certainly will I'M
less the most active measures are taken to meet
the crisis. Never were the demands of philan-
thropy more imperative than at the present time,
or the necessity OF prompt and decisive action on
the part of the Government more apparent From
the extreme south of Travancorc we hear that the
distress has reached its height, and that persons
are disposng of their children by sale, without e.
gard to the cast or creed of the parties to whose
mercies they are consigned. The district literally
swarms with tie miserable poor, and, although
aided by the most liberal efforts of private benevo
lence, many are daily dying from starvation. To
add to this most fearful state of affairs the author
tiles have not adopted timely precautions to intro
duce sufhcency of grain into the country to
guard against the extension of the calamity. The
Malabar ports, which usually draw no than
10000 or 10000 morahs Of rice from Mangalore
during the season. have already drained it Of from
100000 to 100000 morahs; and it is question
whether, in the peculiar circumstances of the
country, steps should not be taken to stop the
expectation of food therefrom.
TO understand the true nature of this calamity
and the extent of the misery the country will soon
be called upon to cope with, daily journal places
some correct information before the public, from
which it appears that the of the famine will
include population of twelve millions In the
Delhi, Meerut, aud Agra divisions alone; while
the division south of Cawnpore, RohIicund, be-
yOnd the GangGs, the protected Seikh States north
of the Doab, and the countries west of the Jumna,
are more or less suffering from the scarcity of
food. The same authority doubts if the popula-
ton over which this famine impends includes less
than forty millions of souls.
The famine will be felt in all its severity until
April or May, when the spring crop should be
ripeniDg throughout Northern India to replensh
the stores of the country. Famine Relief Funds
are being established all over the country, and in
our own city Rs. $4,000 or Rs. 10000 have been
subscribed and paid in The utmost efforts are
demanded to stem the torrent Of human misery
that is fast flowing down upon US, and with
the greatest exertions only 1.-THE of the distress
will be relieved-thousands must perish.
The papers tcem with such accounts as these,
even thus early: 1.-The other day two women who
had only just strength to crawl to Mr. Cowan's
bungalow, died in his verandah." "Thc popula-
ton in the Doab already dying with hunger
and the people reduced to the greatest ex
tremity" "There are to be seen, we are told,
numbers of dead bodies, of children particularly,
aud women lying by the side of the roads; while
crowds of women and helpless children, deserted
by their husl ands and fathers, are to be met with
in a state of the utmost destitution."
However nobly private charity may reply to the
appeal made to it, it would be but hooking the
crisis that Is coming to look for adequate relief
therefrOm. The question of money must be
altogether secondary, and Government must i'm
provise the means of meeting the calamity in its
full furce. The cattle will soon have all disap-
peared from the face of the country from the
impossibilty of feeding them, and the fear is that
when the crisis comes transport for the conveyance
Of food will be found wanting