, 1864-06-28
FAMINE HN TEE CAPE
VERDE ISLANDS.
No Rain for a YeaF-Scven ThoHAand
Die OF Htofvatio0-MoTeul for
Their Re1efs

Captain J. Blck1ord, OF tho brig Monte
Christie, which sailed from Porto fraya, the
capital Of Sanriago, one Of the Cape Verde
Islands, on May 18th, md has roceutlJ arriv-
ed At this port, gives 4 most distressing ac-
count Of the famine there. There has been
no rain for a year, and the crops have failed,
the verdure Is p.rched aud slriyeled in the
heat, and the ground Is dry and dusty
The people III the country who depend up
on their eropa for food, after exhausting
their slender resources, flock into the towns
md die BY scores. Captain Bickford was
informed tha, on Santiago, which is the prln-
cipA Island IN the group, aud which q year
ago contained population Of s., 900, 1905 had
died OF starvation between Jauunry 1st and
lAJ 1st. ThB Portuguese government had
authorized Z draft on their treasury to the
amount Of US, QUO, to relieve the poor, but
this had gone but very little way, although
the new Governor, senor Don Campo Bello,
had done what he could to help the suffering
within his reach.
Hon. Antonia Bella Fortes, with some
other wealthy gentlemen, had erected q large
bulldiuE, where ~ many es possible OF the
starving who came Id IRON this country ware
sheltered aud lad, but In many cases life wa&
too fur gone to render succor of auy avail
During bis stay III Porto Pr@Ja, forty or fltty
died In the city every day from starvation
and diseases arising frsm over indulgence
after protracted fasting, although every pos
s,ble M pfseauti9n i.s 49 Tas "a. used In supplying
One could not walk tho streets without
seeing at least three Or four poor creatures
dying by this Hny side. Captain Bickford
rude out a lew miles Into the conutry but
here the scenes grew more horrible at every
step. Men, haggard with hunger, begged OF
him for food; women, gaunt and week, tot
tered along the road and fell fAintlng in lull
sixht, perhaps, Of the city where they hoped
to ind bread; children, almost naked, held
up their !ittle bony arms mutoly nsking Tor
help. He went but = short distance, aud re-
turned heart sick. When the cargo Of tho
brig was landed a1d carried up into the city,
men and women dug in the dust for tho TEN
grains OF rice which fell from the bags, and
treasured them u If they had been gold.
There can be no Gro - before the FIRST OF
December, eYrn If the Islands nave rain, and
the supply Of corn and rieo which they have
| At Porto PrnJa, for such gcanty charity as
| they are abba to afford, Ia only About enough
| for d month more In thle state of things 1t
| becomes our citizens to consider whether,
Notwithstanding their liberalitJ In respond
Ing to other calls made At home, they can
sn11er these poor people, within thirty days
kail OF Boston, to starye to denth.. Tho Cape
De Verde Islands are ten In number, and in
1850 had population Of 6s,77s. In Boua-
| vieta the sItnatiou Of the people is described
| n being still Worhe than in B4ntiago a
| dual eases Of suffering eau bc.relieYed, and
hare direct call on our synpathies.
We learn that Mr. Archibald Foster, tho
| Brazilian and Portuguese Consut-at No. 100
| State street, up stairs-has received two or
| three hundred dollars for these starving peo-
pie, ard ~ trust that this sum may receive
q very substantial iucreAse. Capt. Bickford
will room sail aEain, and has generously Of
fercd to take ont certain quantity of freight
| free Of charge.