, 1874-01-03

Calcutta {yop 21 correspondence Of the London Times
Another week without coploss raln and tie
be certain. Although the two Governments have
not ret thought it timo to invite public relief
committee to organize itself at Calcutta. it is
wcll that the Lord Mayor has taken tie Initiative,
as reported bY telegraph. The absence OF tho
Governor-Gencral in the northwestern provinces
is necessary, but 1t is felt that he should return
next voek without visiting Lucknow. Not only
does this Central Relief Committee question now
demand settlement, but three weeks will
have passed since tho hlsutenantTGov-
the prohibition Of the export OF the
commoner kinda OF rice, at least from
Bengal Meanwhile, food is fast leaving the
country, not only by sea from Calcutta and
C,ittagons but from 0rssa for Madras, to
which Bengal Las been lookins for supplies. The
native press il wild at this, and all Europeans.
except those engaged ia the rice export trade.
arc coming round to tbs conviction TINT tue
stoppage Of export should not be delayed From
all can learn. after repeated inquiry among "a; a.
tives, and readins facts on the sunjcct, Tho old
rice il the country will not last beyond January,
and the new rice crop will suffice only to June: If
carefully husbandcd. Meanwhile The Christian
prayer~meeting IN tho town hail ! has been tol-
lowed by tho chanting OF the following vc1scs,
in Sauakrit, at the monthly meeting of the
"Santana Dharma RakBhana Sabha, or Society
fur the Defense of Eternal Rellgion-that ls+
orthodox idolatry-held on the 10th inst::
II. 0, Almighty Supreme 'lshnul Ihon art
tho p1eserver in this world; save. therefore
Bengal aud other places from the impending
deartl,
"2. o God! we thy devoted people bumbly
pray that thou wouldat rescue US always IRON
future grain scarcity.
H3. s Asy1um OF Mercy pour down thy boun-
teous showers Of kindness. and cause tho wofld
to be supplied with plentiful harvest.
"a. In this kali yusa (ase OF vice) we human
beings live upon grain; 80 save our Ives by thus
sand ntr f1,r
tho universe.
rs. O Lord! Governor! Thou art the sole
protector OF the helpless kindly pardon our elos,
and, hearing our solicitations, bestow upon liz
thy universal benedict'ons.
st6. And also prolons the hfe Of the sovereign
who ia onr ruler, Tor the prosperity of tue sub
iects entirely depends upon the monarch'B veal"
The Bishop Of Calcutta has prepared form OF
prayer for use at present. but have not ret met
with it.
Or6ers are to be issued hereafter regarding
the migration Of laborcrs from the famine tract
to Assam These official reports from selected
districts up to Saturday last-we haze since had
another week Of raiu1ess weather and advancing
p1ices-wm show you the condition and pros
poets Of Bengal proper:
"T1rhoot-In the Dui ibhanga subdivision the
rica-crop ia lost beyond hope. The prospects, OF
tie cold-weather crop arc dag by dby becoming
moro gloomy. The land which was prepal Cd for
sowing the cold-weather crops has been dried
tie Madhubaui subdivision, tho prospects OF
,od cold-weather crop are very small. In the
ilajeepore subdivision tue rice crop is entirely
lost for want Of rain, and tue cold-weathe1 crop
is suffering from tho same cause. In the Tai
rore subdivision the cold weather crop has been
benefited by the fall Of little rain in tic SOUTH
west corner over some villages, but 40 good has
been done to the rice crop, which is materially
iniut cd, aud in some places is being cut for
fodder. The cold-westher crop in other parts OF
the subdivision is as bad Is it can be. In the
chief subdivision the prospects arc equally
In tie Ragshase Division We are told OF Rung-
moro that ..the state Of the rice crop can hardly
be worse. The people arc already suffering
from scarcity in some parts." In the county
town Of Raguhaye rice rose to II pound shli.
Ing. As to the districts round Calcutta read
this -..~
+" Hoogh1y.-1rrigation il continued wherever
water remains. Some OF the earlier crops have
been been reaped, yielding an eighth crop, All the
remainder, except what is irrigated, must d1c.