The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-04

Famine and Plenty.
While we are engaged in harvesting perhaps
the largest crops with which the country
has ever been blessed. destructive famincs
and droughts are prevailing in other parts
Of the earth and bringing misery and death
10 millions Of people The famine of India,
in 1872 and 1873, which followed the failure
OF the rice crop. was one OF the most OK
tensive and appalling of which we have any
record, but the vigorous measures Of relief
Instituted and carried out by the British
Government greatly lessencd its disastrous
effects and finally enabled the regions it af
ilictcd to overcome the enemy.
The terrible famine which Is now dcvas-
tating densey populated provinces ofChinn,
however, has for about year been left to
pursue its course, with little to check the
progress beyond the operation Of natural
causes. The local Governors and the Impc-
rial Government have offered some relief to
the distressed people. but It has been Of
comparatively small amount. Aid has also
been furnished 10y private bencvolence. but
that has gone very little way toward allie
waiting the shocking misery which is visit
ing the victims Of one Of the dircst famines
that ever occurred
The seat Of the famine is in the northeast
ern provinces of the empire, the impovcr-
ishcd country consisting of the greater part
Of the Province Of Shansi, parts Of south
western Chill, western Shantung, and the
northern districts Of Honan. comprising an
area variously estimated at from seventy
thousand to a hundred thousand square
miles, inhabited by from fifty millions to
hundred millions Of people. Happily the
latest news from Hong Kong, up to July IA,
reports that the rains, which had already
begun at the time of the just previous ac-
counts to alleviate the distress. were then
continuing and revving the hopes Of the
famished people, who at length could hail
the prospect ot n fair harvest. Meantime,
however, the suffering continues, and it must
last FOR long time yet.
The greatest distress has been in the
southern half Of Shans including the pro-
vinciOl capital Tai Yucn, and the prefecture
In which that city is situated has diminished
In population from over 1.00o.OoO to about
10000. In an appeal for all addressed to
the Imperial Government last March hy the
Governor OF Honan and the commissioner
Tor famine relief of that province, the his
tory OF the calamity was briefly told. For
several years In succession the region had
suffered from severe drought, which
finally eliminated in famine of an iutcnsi-
ty and extent Heretofore unheard of. When
last autumn came with almost no crops at
all, the people who were already droadfully
Impoverished began To suffer bitterly and
generally for lack Of food, and be-
lore winter was over the number
Of those in need Of relief increased SO
rapidly that at last they numbered mil
lions The lower. or rather poorer Glasses,
Of course, were the first to feel the effects of
the calamity, and they abandoned their
homes By thousands in the search for sub
sistcncc in region, not So afflicted. But by
spring the famine had also attacked the
welltu-do and the wealthy, who were soon
reduced to n starving condition. In the
early period Of the distress the living fed
upon the bodies of the d"nd next the strong
lcyoure the weak and at last the furnished
wrctchcs ate up those Of ,hoir own flesh and
blood. At the time OF thc memorial. the
local sources Of supplies OF. food were en-
tircly exhausted, the grancric7 were empty,
the treasury was drained dry, and tho few
wealthy people in the provinces had impoy-
crushed themselves by their contributions
and loans to help the awful distress.
Letters from foreign missionaries received
n Shanghai which is not seven hundred
milas from fine afflicted district full, Loro
)ut those statements. The sturdy Chinese
poasents do not fold their hands, as the in
lnbip.nt-oI Madras did during their great
famine. bat th.y max, a wild 6rbt for lifo
and if thcv cannot find tbc dnod rood,. ot
nand To- eat. th.y do NAT Hesitate in tInI,.
frenzy to butcher the Twin, To- sntisfy their