American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-05-02
HORRORS OF TEE INDIAN FAMINE.

ttIS roy L thtto.
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HORRORS OF TEE INDIAN FAMINE.
Although at latest accounts the
efforts OF the British authorities TO
relieve the sufferers from the famine
in India were diminishing the dis
tfess very materially, an immense
amount OF suffering still existed.
The detective means of tranSporta-
ton prevented speedy relief in many
eases. The London Times CORES
pondrnt, writing from Calcutta, Feb.
9th. says:
Tim fields are literally burned
up, and the people are coming on
the roads in thousands. The higher
castles are coming ON, too, very much
There is no rain, the sky is bright
and clear. and prices are gradually
creeping higher. The people are
cutting the standing crop and Civ
ing it TO their fiocks. An old man
eighty years of age told me the 9th
Ter day that he never saw such a
gloomy prospect. Things are really
becoming serious | am very much
afraid, despite the exertions of the
government, that ten per cent. of
the population will die of starva-
ton before October next. One of
my correspondents describes the
state of the country from Mudho-
bunee. The crops were burned up
everywhere, save in few patches
on the banks of the rivers, where
f1ax- or ThAr., L. Il
understanding sandbanks in the
Ganges, Gunduk and Ragmuttee,
which in ordinary seasons afford
food to large population, were
bare. When the last rain came. the
peasants haSteDed to SOW peas and
millet, believing that the worst was
past, and expecting to secure extra
ordinary returns, as well as to save
the little spring crop left. Alas, it
was in vain ; the rain has not made
weeks difference to the people.
Fifty per cent. of the people must
sooner or later come on the relief
works, accord ding to the official cs-
innate, and it is feared that the
number of 'clOSe upon one million
people in North Tirhoot alone may
be exceeded. Contracts have been
made for transporting seven thou
sand four hundred tons Il week into
the northeastern corner of Tirhoot
aIone.'
The London DAILY Ne,cs cores
pendent at Durbengah, under the
date of Fe brua'y goth, writes thus :
"Among the public relief works
VIII ich have been undertakes. in this
sub division for giving employment
to the destitute classes of the famine
stricken community, is the ConStruc-
ton of Il new road fl ON this station
in an eaSterly direction to Buheyra.
a distance of about twelve miles. |
was Informed that at the Durbun-
gah end of this work, and within a
distance of some two miles from the
town, upwards OF six thousand per
SanS-men women and children
were employed, ana that at ii rate
of remuneration which sui1iced, at
least, to avert physical deteriora~
ton from ScantlneSS of food. 1t
seemed to me that an inspection of
this industry would afford pleas
ant relief to the scenes of misery
which presented themselves with
such RELENTLESS perSiStency before
my eyes, as I sat in my tent OH the
Madam of Darbungah finishing the
letters which / sent You last week.
1t is nc easy thirg to write cohe-
rentiy With the moan of miserable
starvelings constantly in ones ears
Whenever | looked up from the pa
per, there stood or squatted before
me outside the open door of the
tent some half dozen fOrlOrn, hollow
eyed, emaciated women, begging
for food to keep them from starving.
If l called for the chupraSsie to
move them on'-fOr to work in sight
or hearing of them was impossible
they went patiently away with the
dull resignation of fataliStS. But no
sooner We're they gone than others
came; Lean mothers came, and laid
down lutte children, that lay probe
on the grass, as if they were dead,
for the, were too far gone in star
walton to stand on their wasted lit
tie legs, and prayed for morsel of
food to save their little ones.
Wretcteu old women. shriveled and
starved almost out of human sem
blance, tOttered over the grass, to
fall PROSTATE outside the tent, and
pray for relief while their gray hairs
trailed among the dust. The air was
full of TIE dull, mOnotOnOus howl i'll
which relief is craved, as a marsh at
eventide echoes with the crOaking
Frogs