New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-31
THE FAMINE IN INDIA.
,rrrrR FROM A FORMER RESIDENT.


., fhe Edtt0r OF The Tribune.
su. There seems not to be quite a clear under
landing among people in America to the causes,
.~,out and probable duration of the famine in In
A.. nor of the amount of suffering and starvation
h;cb il entails nor of the measures of relief gigan
A. VET insufficient which the Government of India
re adopting for the relief of the sufferers and
,la;n statement of the by one who has been
,hrourh one famine in India, and who has assisted
IN ;nauguratng and carrying out the same measures
a. relief now employed, may prove of interest to
many who would be glad to understand the matter
better.
The rainfall IN Southern India is confined to two
.sasons The /" southwest monsoon" as II is called,
which sets in from across the Sea of Arabia during
the months of May and june brings the lesser rains.
which continuing a month more or less, partially
su the water courses and reservoirs. They also
roosten the high ground, where irrigation cannot be
made use Of so that the farmers can begin to pillow
their lands for the Autumn sowing. Occasional
showers fall in July and August But the great
monsoon comes in October. The wind, suddenly
changing from southwest to northeast, sweeps
dawn bringing the heavily charged rain-clouds and
for more than month it rains good part of the time
night and day. This is Indas hope, Inda's riches.
Filling all the water courses filing all the myriads
of reservoirs throughout the country which store
the water for months of irrigation, it renders posi-
ble Indias marvellous fruitage of grain which keeps
her teeming millions alive.
At once too, on the coming on of this monsoon,
the millions of acres of uplands which cannot be
cultivated by irrigation are sown with milet ragi,
pulse, corn. and the host of minor cereals used by
the Hindoos. But the most of their food grains are
raised by irrigation. Successive Governments and
private parties through 5000 years have con-
structed unnumbered reservoirs, or tanks as they
are universally called in India. From a single hill
top l have counted 157 of these tanks in sight.
The larger number belong to the Government and a
certain water tax is paid by each ryot cultivator
10 Government for the supply. The rivers of
Southern India have many of them been damned
by the Government one of them with dam three
miles long, at cost of IA. 600 900, and the waters
which had for centuries flowed into the sea and
been wasted are now turned over hundreds of
square miles of what had been arid plains and they
have been converted into gardens of plenty. Give
the HindOo plenty of water and the richest crops
will be raised everywhere. Without water he can
do nothing
Let now the monsoon fail to come and almost inn
medaely the direst distress reigns everywhere and
reaches nearly all classes. The thousands who have
grain well knowing that ii will be many months
before more can be raised hold on to what they
have with an iron grip. Many bury it In the
ground to conceal it from the millions who have
nOne Many dealers thus secretly hoard up large
stores hoping to get from four to ten times the price
before the famine is over Consequently the price
will Immediately be advanced to double and treble
what it had been.
This could better be borne. but a large proportion
of the labOring classes are thrown out of employ
ment at once. There is ram to mOisen the land;
il cannot be powed; the channels of irrigation are
dry; growing crops wither; no wedding or Guilt
waiting is to be done; no harvest labor is wanted;
what money there is is needed for food; building
ceases; carpenters and masOns are thrown out Of
employment; old clothing must be worn; the mil
hons of hand-lOoms all through the country must
stops wcayers are added to the distressed multitude
and 50 with each industry, more or lsss The
thousands Of the well-to-do will in some way pull
through without actual suffering, but the millions
VINO live from hand to mouth speedily succumb.
Now not one monsoon but two have failed. The
southwest monsoon Of May and June, 157G did not
come The lands could not be plOwed. The early
irrigation crops could not be planted. The price Of
food at once advanced, bat " actual distress pre-
vailed The eyes of all were turned heavenward
for the October and November rains None came in
the famine districts. The heavens We're brazen.
Searching suns but no rain clouds. The hearts OF
all sank within Them for it was evident that time
Of dire distress was at hand.
Had the area Of famine been small, the energetic
measures adopted by the Government and by private
parties. with abundance of gram in the surrounding
regions would have been efeetual to prevent great
loss of life But it is not small IL the Madras
Presidency alone the famine reaches over more Than
$4,000 square miles, containing nearly 2o,OOoOOO
of people, while in the Bombay Presidency adJOin-
ing it reaches over some $4,000 square miles with
population of 100000 to 100000, together
equaing three-fOurths of the population Of the
United States. And in the surrounding districts,
while there is no actual famine there is great scare
ity so as 10 prevent their helping their neighbOrs.
Unfortunately this state of affairs is not to he OF
Short duration Two mOnsoOns have already failed.
Our first ray of hope is in the early May and June
monsoon. But even when that comes it will not
at once stop the distress even the actual starva-
ton The unplowed fields, now like sand heaps, OF
in The clay regions, like quarres of stone must be
softened by the rain, and plowed and sOwed, and
the grain must have time to grow. The starved
cattle the few there will be left will scarcely suffice
10 pillow one-fourh of the acreage. The laborers on
the Famine Relief works, dependent on daily earn
ings for daily food, WILL many of them continue on
those works and neglect to plow and SOW. The crop
will be exceedingly light at best. No. The best
Judges say that from four to six months OF starya-
ton is yet before the people. God send relief
come now to speak Of what this famine means
1t means actual starvation and death to many
thousands, if not Millions of the people. 1t means
the defamation of households. 1t means sickness
and decreptude for life to many SURVIVORS 1t
means the loss of property and poverty for life to
others. 1t means the taking away Of beasts OF labor
from the farmer, and future untitled and fruitless
fields and consequent continued scarcity in many
locality.
But 1t is in its present aspects that people have