Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-01-06
The Great nenral Famine.

The first tidings of the great Indian
famine were startling indeed; but the
result proves there was no eXaggeration.
That the fair breast of nature, renowned
for its yerdue and plenty as the garden
of the gorgeous East, should have be-
come barren and thirsty soil is almost
incomprehensible. The Bengal Presi
dency--the wide scene of the present
desolation-contains twelve sdbdivis-
ions, and, taken as a whole, is region
of the richest alluvial soil, intersected
by network of noble rivers, invigorat.
ed by almost torrential rains and bathed
in the intensest sunshine. 1t skirts the
cool southern slopes OF the Himalayan
Mountain chain, where are condensed
the steaming stores of vapor brought by
the southwest monsoon from the Indian
ocean; and thus it is the land of foun-
tains-the water reservoirs which keep
ever full the proud courses Of the Indus,
the Brahmapootra and the Ganges.
The solitary exception is found in the
Northwest Provinces-one of the twelve
Bengal subdivisions. This district OF the
Northwest Provinces extends along the
middle and upper Gangetic valley, in
cluding the country between it and its
affluent - the Jumna - aRd embraces
also the dependencies OF Benares, ALA
habad, Agra and Delhi. Through this
entire region the soil is more arid than
in the other sections; and, owing to the
vertical depth or depression OF their
channels, the two rivers are of little
avail for irrigation. ANY seasonal de-
fciency of rains is therefore severely
felt in the .densely populated country;
so much so that the old Mogul Empe-
rorg had canals for artificial irrigation
constructed on o large scale. These
ssc,sA long since fallen into dis4se and
rm;r rr on,5 the modern governors have
never had the sagaiceitv 10 repair them
nor to build new and larger conaults'
But while the Northern Provinces in
the dry months are nearly every year
arid and grsssless, the FaGt Of Bengal is
green as the Emerald Isle, and the Wons
der now is that the whole district of that
name is involved in the great calamity.
The latest returns from this famine
plagued territory show rapid increase
of distress, and following rapidly on its
heels an increase of crime. 1t is con-
tended that good winter rains may yet
save the BenRres district, so famous in
history. II is, however,
startling to reflect that . population OF
~. .000, 900 is now entered on the worst
famine tract, and of this vast multitude
the larger portion must be fed gratul-
tously after February.
The London Times estimates that 10
two Of the minor dependencies alone
&c, 600 tons Of food grains will be wanted
every mon h to keep alive the ten per
cent. or $3.50, 900 inhabitants now GtRrv-
ing, and this allows only one pound Of
grain daily to each person, or half the
average consumption. The reduction
of wages, the proportionate rise in the
price Of boarded food, and the terror
OF the great visitation, made the
poor ip the Rajpootana district fly
from their homes in drOves, not know
ing whittier they went and lining the
highways with their skeleton coTpses.
Such dreadful scenes, in the heart Of
vast and opnleBt country tributary to
the British cFoYn, put TO shame the
boasted glory Of such political depend
ency, and are a terrible satire on the
so-called civilization Of the century.
The trig0H0metficai survey Of the en-
lire Bengal Presidency was commenced
under the auspices Of the Duke OF Well
ngton. aud has u ade The British govern
y rent famriar with every square mile OF
L, its climate, its soil aud all the re-
sources of its people. The Times may
veil say, therefore, Perhaps We shall
itartle our readers when we say that
10Th the Indian government and British
people are treading new ground with
respect 20 Indian famines, for nothing
could be further from fact. The occur
'ence Of years Of drouth in the North
vest Provinces is proverbial, aud the
,nly expedient within the power Of man
o prevent these-the construction Of
rrigating canals and reseryoirs-has
,een overlooked through the cupidity or
Of the Indian govern
nent Il Is not improbable, also, that
he decreasing Of the district by the
natural expansion Of population has