The morning times., 1896-11-15
THE EA MINE. IN INDIA.

The appalling calamity which seems ready
to descend upon considerable part of the
Queens Indian empire can only be realized
by those who have actually seen the dis
astrous consequences uf widespread
scarcity Of food In the more thickly popu-
iaUed countries or ASIA. Inc government
has had to face no such danger since 1877,
when, in spite of all its efforts, and the ex-
penditurc of eleven millions sterling, five
and a quarter million people pcrished-some
from actual want of food, others from the
diseases that are certain to afflict a fam
ine-stricken population. The authorities
rightly deprecate panic: but it would be
worse than useless to conceal the true facts
of the situation. Agricultural prospects in
northern India could hardly be more hope
less. Nothing but a general rainfall Of three
or four inches within the next week or so
would suffice to make unirrigated lands
fit for the 'rabi' sowings.
+ The early break of the rains has had disas-
trous effects. Bundelcund. the Central Prov
inCcs, and all the black cotton land down to
tn Berars got fair amount Of rain during
tie earlicrp part of the monsoon. ahd are con
scquently better off for the moment; but
SIcn il comes TO the spring crop, the people
in Tn ese tracts will be as sore pressed as the
population of the Punjab aud Northwest
'Provinces. From Nagpur northward to Ba-
reilly, distance, roughly y me as ured, Of 500
anu ITttlI dlfd. +f'tudT. "eStWHTu
to PcShawur, on the Afghan frontier
double tiiat distance acatc distress is in
evitable. Even should next spring give a
bumper harvest, thercw ould be much suffer
ing between th ell and5nOw. Tie most san
.uine officials are afraid to expect more
than half the normal yield. and that, coming
after a succession OF lean seasons, implies
food at famine prices over IN ewholeregion.
From the present moment till the middle of
Uni hn raFn pr n
under what isperraps the most awful tribu-
lation that can be inflicted on great masses
nf the human race. Every means of allevia-
lion, and of preventing actual death from
want OF food. will, we may rest assured. be
adopted by Lord Elgin's government; hut
suffering there must be, so erievous that one
shrinks from estimating its degree and cX
tent.
The most we can hope is that measures of
relief will he so directed and applied that
every rupee spent shall have its full effect in
saving life and ayerting intolerable misery.
1t has been otherwise in the past. During
the Orissa famine of 1S65-66 one-fourth of
the population of the affected districts
perished. In the Belar famine, twelve years
later loss of life, indeed. was prevented
Government imported grain which, In q lim-
tied area interseCted with rivers and rail-
roads, could easily be distributed; hut the
expense was far heavier than 1t need have
been. Millions ofmoney We're wasted. Then
came the Madras famine of SI6-T7. There
was difference Of opinion between the local
and supreme governments. The latter en-
deavOred to enforce more economical eX-
penditure. Whether Lord Lytton and Sir
John Strachey We're right. and the Duke of
buckingham and his advisers were VIZ Dng,
or whether the Madras government would
have done better without interference from
Simla, are questions to which even n royal
commission failed to give final and con-
elusive answer; but the fact remains that
the mortality was enormous and the cX-
penditure great at the same time
In many respects, 1t may be said, the In
dian administration is better prepared to
undertake a famine now than it was in
1877 Since theI there has been an i'm.
mensc development of railway communica-
ton: and throughout the threatened area
the authorities are only waiting for or
ders to begin public works which will
provide many thousands with employment.
In the northwest provinces, indeed, relief
| works have been open all through the hot
weather; and, as Lord Elgn, stated in
council the other day, at one time as many
as 300 900 people were employed. On the
other hand the extent OF the territory which
has to be safeguarded may well excite
uneasiness; and there are other circum-
stances, too, which must be taken, we
fear, into account Is the European civil
service as efficient as 1t was a dozen
years ago? We do not doubt its energy
and devotion, but the senior ranks have
been sadly depleted by premature retire
ments. In these days of deprecated
rupee a civilian usually takes his pension
the moment he has earned 1t. and the men
who could best lead a famine ampaign are
out of the service.-St James Gazette.
-
A Protest.
Lawd, we been a-prayin fer rain
Up on de mountain en- down on de plain;
In en- out,
En- round about:
En-, Lawd, you beardde mo ners shout;
En- de rain come down
on de fiel, en- de town,
But we gittin' mighty fearful hit'l drown
us out!
Drown US
Yes, drown us,
By de way hits fallin' roun' US!
We mighty thankful-fer a little drop;
But dis heah wedder dunno when ter stopl
So, say So 90
Lawd, say so!
En- see dat de weider don't stay 80;
Fer hit mos too wet
Frum day ter day.,
Ter fall on yo' knees
On de groun' en- pray;
En- We can't hor meetin'e an sing en- shout
Eff you don't loose de. ribbon er de rain.
bow outi
-Atlanta Constitution.