Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-03-06
JAPAN'S FAMINE.
Details From American Consul Gen.
eraI at Yokohama.

in q ,enort to the State Department
from consul General Henry L. Miller
at Yokohama.
."rhret Of the northern provinces of
Janar." SAYS Mr. Miller, namely
Miyaei. Fukushima and lwate. with a
,op,,l.,, ton Of 2,62l.55I, are confronting
d famine, the worst since the dis
ast rous one Of 1910 The failure of
the rice crop in these districts is
ryirnarilv The cause of the famine, and
vn,o il is taken into consideration that
lice forms the principle article OF diet
for the japanese people it is at once
understood what serious matter the
failure Of a crop means To the whole
people.
"Frcm authentic reports received
from 1he committee chosen by the for
eisn community OF Sendia to inVesti-
gate the subject. it is stated that in a
regulation of 9,219 at least 100000 are
in extreme distress, with no possible
ity OF saving life without aid. Official
statements: published by the govern
mcnt reveal in part the terrible condi-
ton of the people i'll these provinces
and the suffering they must endure not
only through the winter, but also
through the spring months, before new
crops are harvested.
thousands Of people are living on
roots and leaves of trees mixed with
small quantities Of rice or flour. Many
are grinding acorns. and, after ex-
tracing the bitterness of the nut, are
using the -four for food.
",)f the provinces mentioned Miyagi
crop Of rice in this district is valued at
l. Coz, 600 yen, or 1886, O0G. The yield
this year was but II per cent. Of the
average. and the loss entailed amount
ed to about 100000 yen. or $4,98S, 600.
There are upward of 10000 people III
this province, and the disaster to them
all is apparent.
"irukushma Province grows rice
each year to the value of 1853, 900 yen.
or 50 2a9. "02 % This year,: crop has
been - per cent. a failure, and the loss
here amounts to ever s. 100000. This
province supports a population "f
1,l1+.O Oh The eastern part OF this
province seems to have suffered the
most and the rice crop there is but ID
rcr cent OF til" average yield. Re
ports for this district show that fully
200, GOO people are suffering from lack
Of TODD ana Immediate steps must be
taken to avoid calat.oity.
"rhe province of lWatc shows Il rice
crop one-third Of the average yield.
The southern section Of this province,
however. Jared badly. and its total
yield of rice N:ts only one-fitth of the
average The v,.ln" of the average,
iD:t: I,rnNinrt4 %
YEN. which is equal to $2.4l5.13l. This
y,ar i; IL but 2.lli03o yen, which equals
los; If 81, i62. 1880, divided among
7iS,254 y recent inspection by compe-
tent men engaged i'll relief work eSti-
mates that 100000 people cannot live
without prompt aid.
.TEUusand:s Of people in these prov
inc..s are reduced to subsistence upon
roots of trees. leaves bark and acorns.
which sustain a meagre existence Ter
| the time. 1t is estimated that over
| half a million people are now facing
extreme conditions ana must succumb
! unless help is speedily given.
"Following is q translation of the
recipes used by the people in these
provinces in the preparation of
emergency food:
straw Cal,es-Straw. Z parts:
cheap -four, ] K. parts. Add 4 pound
of lime and Il pound potassium bicar-
Donate. The straw is cut very fine and
boiled one and Onr-hall hours in about
sixteen quarts Of water. The roots
| and chaff are SKINNED off and thrown
away. The straw water is strained
| through the lime, after which the po-
tassium hicarbonate is added, and then
more straw is put in. This boiled
straw is washed with fresh water and
| strained, and the residue thoroughly
mixed with cheap -four, forming the
consistency of tough dough. This is
made into cakes and allowed to dry,
after which it is pounded and eaten.
either as it is or mixed with water and
boiled into soup. This recipe makes
about eight quarts OF food.
| Acorn Cakes.-This food is made
from a bitter variety of acorn. and the
supply has almost been exhausted. To
remove the bitterness of the acorn the
nuts are dried and thoroughly pulver-
| lied. 1t is then put into a solution of
| potassium bicarbonate and the whole
boiled for half an hour. The residue
/ > cHif'it oti' III iii'' sui III b-iolF pi'tii
| fires and permitted 20 dry. 10 this is
added two quarts of foreign rice and
one quart OF flour. IL procurablc. one
quart uF native rice is then added. and
| the whole pounded into a cake. which
| is eaten with soy (Sauce) or rolled in
! bean flour and eaten.
| "Gobo USiack RooD Food.-The
leaves of the goho tree. which grows
| in the mountain. ar" gathered and
dried. These ar" boiled in about three
quarts If water in which ashes or 20
| tas:ium b-CarbonHte has been placed
to remove the bitterness of the leaves.
The substance is then strained ana the
| solid rcsidu" washed in fresh water
To this is added the cheapest flour ana
| the substance Founded into a cake.
which is then ready for consumption.
| Ter" ARE several other varieties OF
| food consumed by the people i'm the
famine districts, thu constituent Gle
mentS of which vary from a combina
| ton Of foreign rice with grass or
| chrySanth"num leaves Ia grlielS made
of bad -four, with radishes ana sea
weed. The roots OF tn" wistaria ar,
also eaten, but the government is seek
L lN..,