Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-21
FAMINE CONDITIONS IN INDIA.
what Rev. Justin Il. Abbott Says Abou
Them. 1s%tI -

What Rev. Justin Il. Abbott Says About
Them. &%
Rev. Justin H. Abbott, Who for the
last 1S years has been missionary IN
BOMBAY, India. 10 connection with the
American Board Of Foreign Missions, Is
in Baltimore, Md, to assist in carrying
ont some of the details Of the work OF
the Baltimore committee of 100 on
India famine relief. He had expert
once in famine relief in 1897 and has
been kept in touch with the present
needs, of India by constant correspond
enoe with those engaged in relief work.
Mr.. Abbott Is an American, but has
been in India for 80 years, having gone
there when child.
In speaking yesterday of the con-
ditions in India he said:
The famine has been in existence
for eight months and has been getting
worse each month. Streams and wells
have been gradually drying up. Whole
villages have, in many cases, been en-
| tirely deserted because of the failure
OF The water supply. In many large
cities water is bought BY the gallon
and the poor have to wait and fight for
hours for few drops. Cattle in
thousands have died of thirst as well
as hunger. Irrigation has amounted to
| little The. whole famine area is a
packed desert on which the sun pours
| down terrible hoat. The leaves OF
the trees have been stripped off to
supply fodder for the starving cattle,
thus increasing the desolate aspect OF
the land.
1.-THE system Of relief carried on by
the government of India is very com
plete and effective in preventing death
from starvation, but the native states
with some noble exceptions, seem Il
care but little for the poor who sutiel
in their midst. The work of relief !.
on an immense scale, tut even wher
best managed the suffering is onl,
partly relieved.
1.-THE government of India deserves
the thanks of the world for its effort
to save life-efforts that are on a seal
never before attempted in the histor.
of the world. The native press of India
which Is rs free as that of America q
criticise the government, bears testi
| mony to ths noble efforts that are beinl
put forth to save the lives of the mil
lions OF the poor. The difficulties o
, the government are very great, due Z
tho ignorance and superstition Of many
, especially of the wild tribes aud becaus
OF caSue PRICE. many preier " oio ono
be paupers at the relief camps.
deaths by starvation in Britis
, territory are due not to insufficient
t help from the government, but becaus
the PEOPLE do mot promptly make us
of their opportunities. Thousands, whe
( too late, make their way from thei
. homes to the relief camps and eithe
, die on the way or perish at the camps
. possibly from the eating Of, food whic
] they have not the stI ength to digest.
: ~ have notice in some papers tina
i the government Of India is critioise
8 for not seizing grain, feeding tn
! hungry and settling with the merchant
0 afterward. Such arbitrary action woult
|. however, so upset the grain trade thu
Q the difficulties Of the situation woul
9 DO intensified. The decision of the 20,
8 eminent not to interfere with the graf
4 trade 10 universally considered in Ind
j. as the wisest method, and it has n
/. suited In the equalizine of prices ov'
It the famine area. 1t has stimulate
10 trade, and millions Of bushels of tt
II cheaper grains are being poured in
n the famine area from parts of Ind
,r where crops are good, and from Burma
10 and other lands. Importation of Rra
N is thus very active"