The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-21
The FAMINE ~ india.
Gravity of the situation Made Worse by
Drought and the Plague.

The latest figures relating g. The terrible calnm-
ity that has fallen IN n part Of India show the
numbers employed On relief works. BON
bay, 523, 900: Punjab, III, 900 Central Provinces
l,l73.OOO; Berar, 100, 900; Aimere, 40, 1000; Raipu
tana, 2O3,OO Central India. $1,000, bombay
Ste ties, $50. 900. Bato Ia. OF 200. total. 2, 1l1.OOO.
Lord turzun's telegram 20 the India Once IN
London adds 10 this statement, "No rain; CT y
prospects becoming worse as the rain holds oil,
though IN the provinces and Oudh
termination is good, aud irrigated areas there
and IN Punlab are safe" The outside world can
have but a faint idea Of the disastrous effect Of the
condition Of things 80 culdly described
in the official statement given. but the
following extract from the letter Of a Bombay
Official dated Ahmedabad. Dec, 4. 1899, gives
some slight indication Of it, lie says:
i came here IN tour. and find there Is every
evidence Of famine, but the wholesale mortality
OF cattle Is the most striking feature at present
Trains full VI hides are TO be seen going 20 the
Bombay market. and this splendid breed Of
Guzerat cattle have already died in tens Of thou
sands II will take many years TO make good
the loss.
Il am afraid this will be the worst famine the
Bombay Presidency and India generally has
had iof very many years past, the area is 50 cX-
ltllNlNc anu we lNllure pl grass hlu crops 80 an
solute. in addition To- which the water supply Is
falling lDthis usual y fertile province OF Gu7erat-
RaIputana and kaitiwar, they have hed no such
visitation within the century, and in The DcCcal,
alas. this is the second acute anime IN three yea, =
IL really seems as II this battle OF saving lie IRON
plague and famine were never to cease.
i went ~ the puurhOuse here, which has only
been started n shor, time, for people no are picKed
up about the city precincts too weak " work and
exhausted from nothing o. eat There are al
ready 22U in the house little better than living
| skeletons Spmp die every a. u in fla tAtny hons 90
II ~ only the beginning Of what will get worse,
more acute, every month for at least six months
u come.
There is not the slightest doubt that were the
British Government not here now, whole prov
lnces would get depopul0ted, and with all the
resources at our command the Government is
scarcely able u stand the enormous dram on its
resources The Government Of Bombay has
long since had t. get assistance from the Govern.
ment 81 lndla, for three yearsof plague and famine
have been too much"
Other information from various sources in
India only adds TO-, and confirms what this official
describes The plague still continues its raw.
ages, In some places becoming worse MS the effect
OF famine increases the combination Of the two
Scourges also tending g. an augmentation of
crime and the spread II disafTeCtlon So far, the
British public have apparently failed o. appre.
ciatr the full gravity II the situation in India,
events in Suuth Atrca absorbing all attention,
for, unlike the acton taken during the lat famine
in raising a fund for relief Of the hunger stricken
people, no private movement has been made 10
render assistance on this occasion. To add 70
the ser1nnSn"SS ct the outlook the wages paid
90 the people on the relief works have had % be
reduced on account Of their increasing numbers
and " avoid exhausting the famine fund.