The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-01-15
THE FAMINE in INDIA.

Rev. W. e. Hopkins, formerly OF
Park Rapids, this state, now mis-
sionary in India, writes in the PARK
Rapids Enterprise regarding the pre-
sent condition of matters there in the
face of the threatened famine. He
states that large share of India is
threatened with famine, and that
their latest reports are to the effect
that il will be worse in every respect
than the great famine of 1865 when
a million and half of people starved
besides thousands of cattle, sheep
goats, horses, etc. Speaking OF thel'
work there he says:
We Lave room in our Mission board,
ing schools for 100 boys and 100 girls
We have already received a little CIR
and nv eyangeliStS in the district
report many who must be brought IN
or starye-children of our Christians
and of Heather as well-latter being
i'm the habit of DESERVING their little
ones as soon as calamity comes upon
them. We desire to receive all VINO
are so abandoned and in a few years
we can count upon at least 10 per
cent of these becoming Christians.
When rescued at from infancy up to
ten years of age they know nothing
practically, Of heathenism, save the
misery and wretchedness which ever
surrounds them, and very readily re-
spond TO the teachings of Christianity
The famine thus becomes one OF the
opportunities which we always seize
to save the children as we'll as to
preach to the grOwn-whO will listen
when in affection.
Of the permanent work to be done
at the mission where he is located, ne
has three objects in view, which he
speaks of as follows:
/. Sinking an irrigation we'll on
our mission ground here to grow rice
for the rescued children, as we have
about six acres which will grow rice
and other native grains and bear two
crops year. These rescued children
will be able to perform most OF the
labor. with a man to oversee IT..
Already we have begun this work,
bat my salary won't hold out long on
silis work AMI as yet | have no other
funds in hand. 800 will suffice for
this.
2. To erect a Reading Room and
preaching hall-thus providing a
much needed building for the mission
and furnishing work and food for a
large number of starving people for
several months. We can make our
bricks, tile for roofing, and cut tim
beers from the jungle, thus using all
the money on the ground. For this
we need S125 Immediately.
g. To sink wells in the district Tor
our Christians who are too poor to do
1T. but with which they can irrigate
and grow food for the present emer-
gency, and the work will remain a
permanent improvement. The ground
for the we'll will also serve as site
for chapel, school house and preach
sr's house as an out-station and thus
give another advantage to our work.
i can use $500 90 on this work at once
and save more suffering than words
can describe.
Money for any of these objects, he
says, will be of great service In &C
eomplishing much good for the people
there, besides saving the lives of
thousands.
In addition to this is an article
which the Enterprise has clipped from
HE Bombay Guardian, in which the
writer states that it is now four years
since an average crop has been pro-
fluced there. Large numbers of small
farmers have been completely ruined,
and thousands who have depended on
them for labor have gone down with
them Everywhere among the jungle
villages, he says, is seen the signs of
gQin and decay, and whole villages
Rave become depopulated, and fields
are lying uncultivated, while the peo-
pie are wandering over the country in
search of employment and food. And
he adds:
All this, however, pales into insig-
Dihcance before the outlook for the
Bext twelve months. AS the present
years rainy season drew near, the eX-
peetation of an abundant harvest be-
same general: all the local prophets
and older cultivators said that there
were many signs of exceptionally
good rain with consequent humping
harvest. This infused new hope into
1he respondent farmers who put
forth every effort to raise necessary
loans of money for purchase of cattle,
seed, ETC., with the full expectation
OF being able to repay all indebted
ness and have something more or less
substantial left at harvest time.
The reverse has happened; the season
nas proved the worst known for many
years, the harvest being almost a
sotal failure. and now blank starva-
non stares probably not less than
ihree-fourths of the population in
she face. Everywhere one hears ''for
she past year we have by begging and
borrowing just managed so keep alive,
shiS year we must all die"
Unless the outside world furnish
immediate relief, starvation will num-
Der its victims by the thousands
ahrough the coming months.
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THE BRAMBEL ENGINE.