Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-08-03
PARENTS DEVOUR THEIR CHILDREN.
THE MOST FEARFUL FAMINE OF MODERN
TIMES.

The reports which we give below give
new and appalling details with full &C.
count of its causes and extent.
The dearth is very
MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD
than at first reported. In place of being
confined to the province of Khorassan it
extends over the entire land. Already
the loss of life has been fearful. Persia is
said, on reliable authority, TO have lost
sands of people, half-famished, have drag
ged themselves
ACROSS THE FRONTIER
into Turkish Arabia and Cabool, while
those who have not had the energy to emil
CRATE, or have been prevented from doing
so by the strong arm of the government,
are daily dying by thousands of starva-
ton. A Persian subject cannot leave his
native country, even to go on a pilgrim
age to Meshed Hosein or to Mecca with
ont
SPECIAL PERMISSION
from the authorities, and this permission
ia even now, in spite of the present appal-
ling condition of the country, still insist
ed upon. The people in desperation, how
ever, use every means to elude the vigil
ance of the government aud escape into
happier lands.
1t appears that there was
A TERRIBLE DROUGHT
last year, which was followed as natural
consequence by partial failure of the
Tbnro A.Y,iV Nd
privation, but comparatively little NOR
talitY.
THE AMERICAN WAR A CAUSE OF THE
FAMINE.
1t is curious fact that this fomiue il,
to a certain extent, one result, though of
course an indirect one, of the American
civil war. There is belt of country in
Persia which is eminently well caloulat-
ed for the production of cotton and the
high price of that article seven or eight
years ago induced many of the smaller
cultivators to abandon raising other
crops and embark in its production. This
opening for commerce rapidly developed
into large trade, and a couple of lines
of steamers have been started from Bonn
bay to Bushire, port on the Persian
Gulf, which is the only one of Importance
on Persia's limited sea coast. The money
gained by the sale of the cotton was en-
ployed to buy provisions from Ears, or
Faristau, and the other southern provin-
cas-, which are better adapted to the
growth of whert and rice. The high
price of opium, owing to the tax imposed
upon it's export by the British Indian
government, has also stimulated the pro-
Inatinn Cf YODria1 IN J,laoa of
Last year there were two thousand chests
of this drug exported from Bushire. The
silk trade has also largely mere sed.
izh the area of land employed in the r,is
ing of provisions, and have doubtless
tended to aggravate the consequences Of
the present b ID season.
INHUMANITY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
The partial famine last year exhausted
such email accumulated stocks of provi- |
si0us ~ were in the country. The people, |
however, managed to linger through the
winter, sustained by the hope that the
spring crop (there are two yearly crops
in Persia. would bring back plenty.
Early in the year, in spite of the general
mpoveri-hment Of the people. the gov
eminent, with shocking inhumanity,
raised the taxes. This completed the
misery Of its unhappy subjects What
little Money they had left was torn from
them, aud they were left beggared to fece
a year whose horrors had but begun.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE INCREASED
TAXATION.
The first effect of the increased taxa
tion was to drive people from their homes
in the country to the big cities, as, owing
to curious law, the imposts upon tlllers
of the soil are very much heavier than
those exacted from the dwellers in towns.
In cities, indeed, the mass of the popula-
tion practically escape taxation, and the
revenue is raised, with the exception of a
poll tax, from the merchants.
THE FAMINE GROWS WORSE.
Before the end of winter the famine
had spread from Faristtn TO the other
provinces, which depended upon it for
supplies. The cities of I4pahan, Yezd,
Herman and Shiarz were crowded with
starving multitudes. Teheran, the cap
ital, suffered least, but even there the
privations were terrible. Wheat in Ker-
man rose to nine times its usual price.
FAILURE OF TIE NEW ChO1+
The new crop has failed also. The
oule have endeavored to keep them
,s alive by eating grass and roots, but
elves soanty nourishmeDt has now
ven this !,
,een exhauste,, INTO SLAVERY.
CHILDREN SOL >rders on Cabool
In Khorasson, which b, al Asia, peo-
nd the wild steppes of Cent?. " among
lie sold their children into slave from
he Tureomans in order to save them
tarvation and at the same to acquire
ew temauns to spend in the baztar for ;
ustenancs.
CANNIBALISM. +
It would be we'll if all the provinces '
ould have disposed of their children IN
he same manner.
DEvoURING THEIR OWN CHILDREN.
In Farsistan parents slay and then de- '
-our their own offspring.
MAKING A BANQUET UPON CoRPsEs.
In Ispahan men have been caught in
he act nf exhuming The corpse of the
lead for the purpose of eating them. ,
ALL THE HORSES EATEN.
Among the results of the famine ay
~ mentioned that ali domestic animals
wen horses, of which Persia raised a
great many, not only for her own use, but
,lso for expectation to India, have been
killed and eaten.
THE CEMETE RIEs GUARDED.
A late dispatch further informs as that
he cemeteries in Sbiraz have to be guard
ID by troops, lest the people, Infatuated
~ hunger, should rifle them OF their
,entents.
NO RELIEF. |
The peple are almost beyond the reacn
If help. Even il food were brought from
India there are no cattle left to transport
4 and auan If there