The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-18

became generally understood that Orissa was des-
alike impossible The southwest monsoon had set
H. The harbOrs OF Oripa, never open more than
part or the year, had become lmpracticable. The
only landward route was wholly UNIT for the
transport OF sufficient food for the country, and
tne doomed population found themselves utterly
Isolated, ain the condition OF passengers in ship
without PROVISIONS" Meantime the cry OF distress
reached England, and when commission was
sent down to the district IL was found 1000 900 OF
the Inhabitants mad died from starvation.
THE FAMINE STRICKEN TERRITORY.
OF famine is now elt with the greatest severity Is
In the northeastern portion OF the Presidency oil
Bengal the most Important division or British pos
sessions in Hindostan and the Chief seat OF English
authority in the East. Sir George Campbell is the
few s % card S &c Sss
recently sent to the distressed districts with
ia powers to, to carry out extensive measures %
tress Is not confined to Behar, but extends to the
south and north OF the region. Taxing map Of
Asia IN nand and finding the Bay OF Bengal
the vast area over which famine has spread It's
black wings will be seen to the north up to the
confines OF Nepaul, with Burmah and Bhotan to
the east and fhbet further north. 1t is wide
tract, where scarcity has for months obtained, and
preva in q Of the aro~rh
Along The loot OF the Himalayas, stretching from
Tae TO e near NEE on the east Is
Tera-a district oijungles, r0adless and wateress.
TIRHoOT
2,5OoOOO, and numerous deaths from starvation
face of the country Is unduatng, and in many
places picturesque The climate is comparatively
to the natives, except in the Terai before men.
TONED, and where the greatest suffering Is now
undergone by the unfortunate inhabitants. 1t is
one OF the principal districts tor the cultivation OF
indigo, rice, sugar, tobacco, maize, wheat and
other grains. Ralshahye is hty and overrun with
jungle, and elsewhere the surface Is Nat, contain
ing several extensive lakes and Is ntersected by
many arms and afiluents of the Ganges.
OnehaH the SOIL Is under rice culture and the other
half is devoted to raising indigo and the mulberry
plant. However, the rice produce Is insufficient
billy district; the Surface OF The level land is mere
rock. Great numbers OF pilgrims visit Bhaemgui-
pore, for it is the birthplace OF bhudda and the
scene OF one OF Vlshna's incantations The inhab-
itants carry on quite profitable business with the
devotees in furnishing them win refreshments,
son and in ordinary times is In nOurisning
state of cultivation. The surface Is almost
which is mentioned frequently, consists Of an
sandy PAIN and s well
River Teesta. which, since 1854, has changed its
course, and now joins the BrahmapOotra instead
OF the Gauges. Extensive manufactures Of silks,
wOOllens and carpets are carried on, and the fairs
are visited by merchants from BhoOtan and Thibet
There is little difference IN the soil. climate and
productions Of the other districts now suffering
from or threatened with famine. The cultivation
of opium (Which is government monopoly is
prosecuted without any lack of energy, and is only
regulated kept within bounds by the capacity OF
the natives to labor In all the afflicted districts
there is an absolute want OF roads and bridges.
FORTY MILLIONS IN WANT.
All this tract lies to The north OF the Gauges and
OF railroad communlcation It is more or less re.
food are increased rom the circumstance that its
interior communications are BY no means good;
and aenssiy populated, that actual anime
the nS districts sHS'of rSoes ona@puran ana
Sarun, frequently mentioned in the caole
easily ON %
map are also in great distress. Fifteen districts,
with population of 49, OOO OOO in actual want.
Besides there has to be taken into account Bhan-
gulpore, Burdwan and other places, having
population OF l4,OOOOoO In which the rice crop has
failed and the consequences OF q scarcity Is 1elt
THE PRESIDENCY OF BENGAL.
The Presidency OF Bengal comprises the provinces
ga th a or @
Gundwana, Berar, Orissa and the British posses
sions beyond the Gauges, Assam, Cachan. Aracan
and possessions in the straits OF Malacca Penang
and Singapore. THIS vast territory has q popula-
ton OF 100000 Behar, it will be observed, is
The Ganees hows through 1t from east to west,
dividing the province into
TWO NEARLY EQUAL PARTS.
An extensive alluvia tract is on the left bank Of
that river and stretches north to the forests Of
Nepaui ana Morning; the south consisting partly OF
similar tract along the right bank of the Ganges
and broad, mountainous tract, called NagpOor
from the diamond MINES 1t Is supposed to contain
The Province OF Behar is divided into six districts
and Is, In respect to natural advantages when not
visited by droughts, the most highly favored in
The northern part Of the Province is wen watered
it being interspersed in all directions by streams
large and small: In addition to me Ganges 1t has
fertility In the tracts south OF the Gauges irriga
ton is effected by means of wells and dams. The
Inhabitants are remarkable for their height and
physical strength. The capital is Patna, where
extensive relief works seem to have been lnaugu-
rated since the scarcity Of food commenced to be
felt
AID FROM THE IMPERIAL TREASURY
1t Is expected in some quarters that the Queen
IN her speech to Parliament next Thursday W Ill
recommend that an appropriation be made from
the surplus in the imperial Treasury for the relief
OF the Bengalese sufferers. No sooner was the
proposition first preached than opposition was
made to 1t on the ground that India has q financial
system OF Its own; that II has an abundance Of
money, and that even without such being the case,
its credit Is good for any amount 1t may require to
borrow Lord Northbrook was sent to india
mainly, 1t would seem, to look after Its financial
affairs, and he has so far acted on the principle that
economy in RXs p s,gdy OBSERVES
collected. Public opinion in England is not iav6r-
s6y o ds do ,a to any portion Of the
suffering Bensaiese Tney are pre- sss WITH
ma matters Sstef sasns u
oas q ssr to se
money rs far K OF tSs
to un the vssrOy Lord NcrtnDreoos, the
Ss Of ssng an arg On
Gil Beaton, In 1856, he saw no grounds for fear and
would not consent to any interference with the
and now all efforts are bent to Import loOd, when
its arrival II obtained in sufficient guam titles will
be In most instances entirely too late save thou
sands OF lives In any event 1t IS doubtful II the
House Of Commons, representing the wishes of the
people, would make grant to the In
Is good in all Asiatc markets to obtain all
the rice needed, and the only difficulty is now to
procure enough food and transport it to the local.
ties where the people are suffering from want.
This Is the problem Lord Northbrook and his ad-
yisers have to solve and upon which depends the
n It Shn
not be question OF dollars or pounds sterling; 1t
ts simply placing food which there be no dtnl-
Guilty In obtaining within the reach OF those in
want
CONCLUSION.
70 sum up, lord Northbrook had, according to
the statements Of his sub0rdinates, less than
300 900 tons Of rice accumulated at Calcutta. hun
dreds OF miles away from the famine stricken dis
tricts, and to reach which obstacles OF almost an
insuperable character are to be surmounted This
supply would hardly last o fortnight Tor a popula-
ton that, according to the London Times, reaches