The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1900-05-25
Famine's Bavases in India.
BY THE REV. j, E. ABBOTT.

extent of the country. Fifty million
people are involved in the section
where the famine is the worst. On
November there were about four
hundred thousand on government
relief works; on December 20, ac
cording to Lord Curzon's cable,
three million were receiving relief,
and the number is still increasing.
But three million on relief works
means many more millions who are
fighting with the very last extrem-
ity of want in various degrse s OF
suffering.
The prompt measures Of the gov
ernment, the generosity OF native
and European men of wealth, the
uutiring efforts Of missionaries, all
have thus far supplemented the re-
sources Of the people, so that but
few have as yet starved to death,
but the emacated bodies Of men,
women and children are beginning
to be seen; despairng pareuts have
been met with Offering their chill
dren for gale, aud abandoned chill
dren havs been found. Thousands
are living on the fruit of the cactus
plant, fruit tit rather for animals
than men.
This condition recalls the famine
of 1S97-tbe crowds of emsciated
people, walking skeletons, furnishing
for food and bitterly crying for help;
children whose heads were mere
skin covered skulls, whose bodies
were abnormally swollen from their
ravenous eating Of every indigesti-
BILE stuff that helped to quiet the
pangs OF hunger, and from drinking
large quantities of water for the
temporary relief of huuger's pain,
their legs aud arms but skin covered
sticks, just able to hold up their
bodies as they staggered along in
their terrible weakness.
1t was under such stress that
childhood came in for its most terri.
BILE suffering. This was especially
true OF the central prov nces, " here
neither government nor private help
was able to cope with the emery
ency. Parents died OF starvation
first, because they denied themselves
for their little ones, their children
lingering en- longer, and in their
death becoming prey to the wolves
and jacksls.
Aside from what the government
did, ten thousand such poor, famish-
ing, dying little ones were saved
by missionaries aud their agents.
BY carloads they were sent to differ
ent schools, where kind hands
washed their sores = the terrible
sores that famine brings-carelully
fed while their 'ravenous, unnatural
hunger was upon them, and gradu-
ally brought to life and health
again.
The cause Of the present famine
is the absence OF rain. In good years
the fertile soil yields two crops, aud
on his acre OF land farmer man.
ages to live and support his family,
but his resources are very limited.
A bad year reduces him to extrem
iiy, and total failure OF rain to
starvation.
Next to government, the best or
ganized agent for saving life and
relieving suffering is the missionary
body. With their native agents,
preachers and teachers working as
they do in the large cities and the
country villages, their operations
cover very large part OF the famine
area.
The district occupied by the Am,
ericau Board in the Bombay Presi-
dency ia rapidly becoming one Of
he worst centres OF the famine, and
,ablegrams aud letters appealing
Tor means to help the people are
coming from the missionaries of the
American Board. The secretary OF
he Marathi Mission cables from
Ahmednagar, "Sors famine" and 10