The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-04-02
Tie ReRgaI Famine.

After the exaggerated reports which
have been published Of the condition
of the people in Bengal, il is q relief
to learn the true state Of affairs. A
/ writer in the NeW-Yofk Herald gave
Z the other day the number Of persons
I threatened with starvation at IS, Co.,
600. This was thought to be a gratui-
tious misstatement; but the latest in
/ formation from The Governor General
of India has now come to hand, and
the worst antieipstions do not bring
up the number of distressed people to
5000, 600. So much for the veracity
of the Herald. The area of the dis
tressed districts is well aseertained,
aud comprises parts of districts ofTir-
hOOts, SaTum Chumparun, Bhagul-
pore, Purneah, and Dinagepore.
1t is expected that there may be
slight distress in other districts. but
none of importance. The viceregal
telegram to Lord Salisbury goes on
thus:
'OrdeIs of government Lice amount
to 420, 600 tons, of which $4,000 from
beyond sea. OF this quantity 100000
arrived. We have been keeping up
for some while constant stream OF
from 1000 to ?, 500 tons day into dis
tressed districts.
Private trade is bringing in grain
from North west and PuDjauO at the
rate of 900 tons a day. Local tran
sport, which has beea the main Difficult
ty, now fairly well organized. Over
81, 900 carts now imployed in districts
north of Ganges, under contracts, in
bringing in Government grain, will
shortly be increased to 70,000.
In worst distributions OF relief Is be-
ing given by circles of moderate area,
each village being vfsitee' and dealt
with.
Two deaths by starvation reported in
Monghyr. None elsewhere yet, but
in parts the lowest classes are gradu-
ally becoming pinched, and without
Government measures severe and ex-
tensive famine would have already
begun.
Cannot as yet speak with certainly
ofsOme parts, such as Rungpore, which
Sir Richard Temple is about to visit,
I but on the whole my present impress
sion is that the difficulties of supply,
/ transport, and local organization al
though very great, have been or will
| be overcome.
Great difficulty from disinclination
of people to apply for relief; therforer
although stringent tests will be care
/ fully avoided in the worst districts
and every means taken to supply the
people with food, cannot guarantee,
in dealing with population 80 num-
erOus, and scattered over an area sc
large and difficult of access, thai
cases Of starvation may not occur.
Estimated famine expenditure to END
of February, rather over G.. 500, 600.
Subscriptions from private snurre-
are flowing IN rapidly. The Indian
/ Government have advanced G., ,OO'
sterling. A sn Inscription at Calcutts
has already reached elOO, 900, which
is as much as England sent To Chica.
90, and all the principal cities in the
United Kingdom, except Manchester
Birmingham, anu Liverpool. they ssy
are doing great deal.
The gratitude of the native Indians
for what the Government has don'
for them is warmly expressed. They
are deep in wonder and thankfulnes
at the Kindness OF the ''great Sarkar'
aud the ''gOod Empress Queen OF In
dis," and regard the action OF th'
Government as such as "no King be
fore them ever did" While &C
knowledging the magnitude of the ca
lamity there is, therefore, much rea
son for hone.