Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-04-21
A FAMINE In INDIA.
WORST viSiTATloNS OF MOD
ERN TIMES.
Its whitening Breath Extends Over
Nearly Half Million Square Miles
and Affects 01,ooo.eoo Peopie-Earth
Turned Into Baked Brsck. .

War has diverted attention from the
state of affairs existing ia India, where
at least three million and half of
people, or a population about equal TO
that of Greater New York. are being
fed daily solely by the goyernment,and
one of the worst famines of modern
times is sweeping OF its victims. The
true famine district in India covers an
area OF 100000 square miles. and con-
tains population of 40, 1000 900 people.
or just about the population of the
British Isles. There is also an area of
$4,000 square miles containing a popu-
lauon of 2l,000,000. where general scar
city prevails, and where there is much
distress. The government of India has
issued circular in which the present
famine is called unprecedented" and
1t is said that IF the present rate of
progression is maintained the crowds
receiving relief will far exceed the rec
ords of any previous famine, and Will
strain not only the finances but the adj
mtnistrative resources of the govern
ment'
The 3,50O,O00 people now drawing ra-
lions from the government have keen
obliged to quit their burnt-up fields
and seek the means of life at the RELIEF
works which have been established.
The famine was caused by the failure
OF the rains, q; d unless something un-
looked for happens. the number of
stricken will increase ranldly. for no
| ordinary rainfall can save the spring
haryests or cover with crops a land
baked into brick. There are whole
| districts where even drinking water is
not to be had, and in soma places the
natives are selling their bullOcks,
worth 60 rupees. fer rupee. All ex-
cept small remnant of these poor
beasts must perish of thirst and star
walton, and large tracts which in ordi-
nary years export cotton and wheat
Will this year produce only bones and
hides. 1t is estimated that something
like 5O,0O0.000 people will have to get
through the next six months without
the crops upon which they depend for
their food The Indian government
has faced this fact. and so far all who
have come to the relief works have
been fed
But all do not come in time. Before
an Indian peasant will quit his beloved
homestead for the relief works there
Is period of struggle and long-drawu-
out misery which leaves him SO enfee-
bled that he falls an easy prey to dis
ease. or drops in sight of the relief
which he finally seeks.
The present famine, like all the re-
cent ones. is felt heaviest In the cen
trail provinces of India, These prov
inces long formed the great unoccu-
pied space of central India, the refuge
of the remnants OF the oldest peoples
of the country, who have retreated be-
fore the march of more developed
races. After the extension of the rail-
road system Of India a great increase
took place In the population of this re-
gion by immigration from the more
crowded tracts around them. These
immigrants were almost entirely of the
landless class, whom the rapid increase
OF population in the valley of the
Ganges had pushed out. The poorest
and least thrifty classes from other
districts focked to the central prov
inces, and, although in good seasons
they are better off in their new homes,
they never lay up reserve to fall back
upon, and when the rains fail and the
land bakes they are the first to throw
themselves on the charity of the gov
eminent. Even in the early stages of
the present famine II per cent of the
whole population Of central India went
to the relief works. Though in the
stricken districts OF India today the
earth Is turned into hot. baked brick
and the sky is dome of burning cop
per, under which all green things are
shriveled up. and the thirsty sun
drinks up the streams and the springs
will not flow, there are other districts
where are prosperity and abundance.