The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-26
INDIAN PLAGUE.


The American board Of foreign missions
has received from Rev. James Smith, one
of its missionaries In Ahmednagar, India,
a carefully prepared statement relative TO
tho prevalence Of the plague and famine
In that country Mr. Smith says:
There are three things that absorb all
public interest just now In India. These
arc the famine, the plague and the
stupcndous task which the government
has undertaken, viz. 60 stop the plague
and feed tho millions that ure starving
More than 3, 900 00O people are already on
relief wOrks-works that owe their incop-
tion To tho famine and the number Is in
crossing by quarter of million week.
The increase is likoly 10 go on and bc
more rapid In the futuc, for tho people
have we'll nigh exhausted their own slim
resources ana prices are still steadily rls-
ing. Tho price OF wheat here today Is
Sa25 a busheL The cheapest grain that
can bo bought sells for moro than Sl25 "A
bushel. Wages of day laborers were never
SO low, ranging from five 20 seven cents u
day.
There arc 80, 600 persons in this district
on relief works, moro than III per cont OF
tho total population. These pcopic receive
on nn average 20 cents week Tor their
labor. At present prices "a man requires
at least 23 cents week 30 buy the grain
out of which his bread is iDauc, leaving
two cents "A week fol everything else he
may need.
There are many thousands who cannot
avail themselves OF government relief,
such as tine old and feeble, the very young,
delicate women and young girls. in
Ahmednagar VIC have always had flour
ishing Industry in the manufacture OF
cloth and copper pots Now this trade is
at a standstiil. Tho workers have all
their lives carried on their work undor
cover Now they need either starve or
carry earth on thoir heads for cmbank-
lnouts in the open, whom tho sun Is az its
hottest, ana this year is hotter than
usual. As / writo, at 8 y. m, 1t feels
delightfully."- cool, but tho thermometer
registers S6 degrees.
"For such people TO work out of doors
in the sun is certain death. 1t is most
distressing to have to tell people every
day that you oan give them nothing To
do. They go away often without
murmur, though they may not have
morsel of food in their houses or cent
wherewith TO buy. A spirit OF resigna-
tion has crept over the whole land. They
quietly whisper. 1t Is Gods will, and
walk away in silence. Escape seems inn
possible. Others are dying, why should
not theyf It is well-attested fact that
hundreds of thousands in the last famine
and thousands in the present famine,
even have died Of starvation almost
within sight OF the government relief
camps.
"This was partly due to their belief in
fate, and partly To their fear of contami-
nation by association with people of other
castes in the relief camps. Better throw
away the present life than imperil their
chances in the next Government has
taken special pains in this famine TO as
sure people that their caste scruples'
will be respected. Different castles have
been provided for in separate camps, and
the arrangements for providing food are
carried out rs far ms is practicable by
their own caste fellows.
1.-The plague it Is commonly believed,
is owing TO the curse of the queen in
revenge for the smearing of her statue
image, they call il, in Bombay, some
months ago, and patients are carried off
by government order to the plague hos
pitals not To be cured but TO be polluted
| first and then put TO death In the most
| horrible manner.
1.-The government has opened shops for
| the sale of grain at less than market rates
| In these shops American corn is sold
| much cheaper than any country grains.
But this American corn Is said to DC
| poisoned, polluted at least, SO that few
| will buy It, Such story can be traced,
of course, to the greed of the native grain
| merchants who make no small gain by
their craft, but which is now thought to
| be in danger.
"In large village a few miles from
| here, it is believed that the government
has employed the native Christians to
| poison the wells so as to make sure of
| killing all those whom the famine and
the plague may spare. In short, nothing
| it too absurd or TOO malignant for the
readiest acceptance. Every village fur
nishes its own fantastic version of the
| situation.
despite all, and with full knowl-
| edge of all, every officer of government
| from the governor downward maintains
the most dignifled silence and directs
every energy to the impossible task of re-
| lieving millions OF starving poor, while
their own countrymen in too many cases
either fold their arms in Indifference or
heap abuse upon them for not doing it
| in some other way.
! "Sir w. w. Hunter says that the num-
ber needing relief may reach 40, 600, 600 be-
| fore harvest and ii the rainfall should be
| short next year also, the number may
| reach 90 coo, 000 When the history of this
| famine comes to be written, il will stand
| on record as the most stupendous work of
| philanthropy that ever was conceived by
| the mind of man equaled only by the sue
cess with which it was executed Is years
after its conception.