New-York tribune., 1896-11-22
DROUTH BROKEN IN INDIA.
PRICES OF GRAIN RAPIDLY DECLINING.
RAIN FALLS THROUGHOUT THE DEcCAN DIS
TIICT-TIORRORs OF THE FAMINE vIvIDI.Y



TEIcr-HoRRoRs OF THE FAMINE vIvIDIY
DESCRIBED BY MISSIONARIES.
London. Nov. 21-A dispatch from Bombay
says that the drouth has been checked by a good
fall Of rain throughout the District of Deccan
and prices Of grain are rapidly declining.
The Earl of Elgin, viceroy of India. tele-
graphs from Calcutta that fair rain has fallen
along the coast of the Madras Presidency up to
Masulpatam. which is situated at about the
centre OF the coast line. Showers have also
fallen along the coast OF the Bombay Presi-
dency far north Batnigari, which Is some
80 miles south Of Bombay. The dispatch adds
that the price Of grain is still rising. and that
16l persons are employed the relief works
that have been started by the Government to
avert the effects OF the famine.
The Vceroy makes no mention In his dispatch
Of the drouth in the Deccan, which is the great
territory lying between the Madras and Bonn
bay Presidencies. having been checked by
good fall of rain, which has caused rapid de-
cline in the prices of grain in that district, in
formation to which effect contained In
dispatch from Bombay received this morning.
Boston, Nov. 2l.-A vivid portrayal Of the
awful situation in India-famine threatened FOR
the whole vast population and grain riots al
ready begun-is contained in a letter which the
American Board Of Foreign Missions has just
received from the Rev. Or. II. A. Hume. dated
at Ahmednagar India October 16. lS.H.
Il am just entering upon my twenty third year
OF missionary service in India" says the writer
I'm three years have been through many per-
plexities but the end OF the twenty second year
finds me in greater pecuniary embarrassment
than ever before in my life Many Is the day
that there is not a dollar in the house for per-
sonal expenses for the old-established fruitful
work. or for our theological seminary, nor any
idea whore a dollar is to come from. and IN this
twenty third year there appears the almost GER
tain prospect OF the kecnest and most trying
suffering and perpcxity caused by widespread
famine. The Indian Weather Bureau foretold
an ina iequate rainy season this year The re-
suit is as foretod. From the Himalayas TO cape
Comorln the rainy season has been inadequate.
In this Ahmednaga: district the early rain in
June and July was good but since July there
has been no rain and now the prospec. Is that
for eight months more no rain will fall
I'm consequence the first crops have not prop
ery rioened. and for want Of late- rains the
second crops cannot ever be sowed In most
places. unless there are wells to be depended on.
Even tho wate. supply is now low. What VIII
1t he in a few months hence? have been
OF {, Is mos, sad. but that not general so
much az A comparatively local famine. The
coming famine seems likely 10 be very genera.
for nearly the whole populatloa with It's 300.
oOor~ people.
ALREADY grain riots are common. Grain
merchants Will not sell grain largely. because
they know the price will greatly increase.
though even now prices are 300 per cent above
normal So people break open grain shopa and
granarles and threaten to Kill the merchants
II they interfere. They say: We shall have
soon 10 die without grim II YOU interfere with
our getting your graia an' kill you in thu
struggle II VIII be all the same. Similarly
these people say 10 the police and courts: Ar
rest Us for stealing and support US IN jail. Then
wc shall not die from starvation When quiet.
orderly people are aroused to such acts and
words YOU can imagine their present condition.
"Iut this H. only the beginning OF our trou-
bles 80 more rain seems likely to fall for
eight full months. TO seed can be sown for
eight and a half months and no grain can be
ripclo for over ten months. What feorful sur
fcrlng seems to be- In store.
"Aircady in some places. parents ar" desert
ing their children. In some places cattle are
being sold for tn. value OF their hides. In many
places farmers forcibly drive their cattle into
I
may put ,hes. cattle into pounds. then they viii
al Least get fed but we shall not regard forest
regulations Yesterday morning. near the gate
~ Ahmednagar a cart with grain was stopped
by hungry men who held the driver till some
~ thotn had carried OF the grain. For two
davs my servants tried Ia vain To buy -" cents
worth II grain for use. II they do this thlns II:
| IL, green tree what shall be done In the dry
The cary part OF October Is thcor"tcally Il
part Of the rainy season. In ordinary years our
water supply is most abundant now and the
crops qrc at their best. ,
Under date of October IL. the KEY T.. ;.
Hume Of Bombay. writes as follows: Inc
| number Of deaths from the plague ~ decidediy
less than II was a week ago. and there Is aisp
n general improvement in the health OF the city
The efforts Of the officials in the afflicted as
tricts have been wise and efficient. There seems
to l,e "A reasonable expectation thdt BOMBAY
win soon resume its natural conditions ana De
FREQ from the plague. No rain. however. mas
fallen and n famine seems inevitaple' Prices
have already risen to a point they have not
touched for many years.
KILLED BY HEAVY TRUCK.