The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-06-28
Famine in India.

The New \ Ork Tribune recently con
tanned letter from the Rev. Jacob
Chamb erlain, for fifteen years a mission
airy of the Dutch Reformed Church in
India. One of our Baptist missionaries,
Rev. Lyman Jewett, ID. d., who has him
self labored many years among the Te-
loogoos, says: "Dr. Chamberlain during
fifteen years labor in India travelled
through the length and breadth of the
famine-suicken districts. His letter is
full, picturesque and reliable. He writes
as only one can write who has lived
among the people-in the time of fam
ine." We make the following extracts
from the letter:
The rainfall in Southern India is con
fined to two seasons. The southwest
monsoon," as it is called, which sets in
from across the Sea Of Arabia during the
months of May and June, brings the les
scr rains, which, continuing month
more Or less, partially fill the water
courses and reservoirs. They also mois-
ten the high ground, where irrigation
cannot be made use of, SO that the farm
ers can begin to plough their lands for
the autumn sowing. Occasional show
ers fall in July and August. But the
great monsoon comes in October. The
wind, suddenly changing from southwest
to northeast, sweeps down, bringing the
heavily charged rain-clouds, and for more
than month it rains good part of the
time night and day. This is India's
hope, India's riches. Filling all the
waite courses, filling all the myriads of
reservoirs throughout the country which
store the water for months of irrigation,
i. readers possible midas marvellous
fruitage of grain which keep her teeming
millions alive.
AT once, too, on the coming of this
monsoon, the millions of acres of uplands
which cannot be cultivated by irrigation
are sown with millet, ragi, pulse, corn
and the host of minor cereals used by the
Hindoos. But the most of their food
grains are raised by irrigation. Give the
Eindoo plenty of water, and the richest
crops Will be raised everywhere. With
out water he can do nothing. Let now
the monsoon fail to come, and almost i'm
mediately the direst distress reigns every
where and reaches nearly all classes. The
thousands who have grain, well knowing
that it will be many months before more
can be raised, hold on to what they have
with an iron grip. A large proportion
of the aboring classes are thrown out of
TO moisten the land; it cannot be
pioughed; the channels of irrigation are
dry; growing crops wither; no wedding
or cuitivating is TO be done; no harvest
labor is wanted; what money there is is
needed for food; building ceases; carpen-
tcrs and masons are thrown out of employ
mant; old clothing must be worn; the
millions of band-looms all through the
country must stop; weavers are added to
the distressed multitude, and SO with
each industry, more or less. The thou
sands of the we'll TODD will in some way
pub through without actual suffering,
but the millions who live from hand TO
mouth speedily succumb.
Now not one monsoon but two have
failed. The southwest monsoon of May
and lure, 1876, did not come. The lands
could not be ploughed. The early irri-
cation crops could notsbe planted. The
price of food at once advanced, but no
actual distress prevailed. The eyes of
ali were turned heavenward for the Oc-
tober and November rains. None came
in the famine districts. The heavens
were brazen. Searching suns, but no
rain clouds. The hearts of all sank with
IL them, for it was evident that a time OF
dire distress was at hand.
HID the area Of famine been small, the
energetic measures adopted by the Gov
ernment and by private parties, with
abundance of grain in the surrounding
regions, would have been effectual to pre-
vent great loss of life. But it is not
small. In the Madras Presidency alone
the famine reaches over more than 80, 00O
square miles, containing nearly 2O,000,-
600 Of people, while in the Bombay
Presidency adjoining it reaches over some
$4,000 square miles, with a population OF
100000 to 10000, 600, together equal.
ling three fourths of the population Of
the United States. And in the surround.
ing districts, while there is no actual fam.
inc there is great scarcity, 80 as to pre-
vent their helping their neighbors. Un-
Fortunately this state of Affairs is not tc
I've Of short duration. Two monsoons
have already failed. Our first ray OF
hope is in the early May and June mon
soon. But even when that comes, it will
not at once stop the distress or even the
actual starvation. The crop will be ex.
ceedingly light at best. No. The best
Judges say that from four to six months
Of starvation is yet before the people. God
semd relief
come now to speak Of what this fam.