Year: 1861

Inc F3mlne IN India.


Our Mission in India has been thus far sue
cessful beyond our most sanguine expectations
The present, however, is time of peculiar trial
with those in that field, resulting from the
prevalence of very extensive and distressing
famine, by which multitudes of the natives
are reduced to a state of starvation. Bro. Par
ker, of the Vermont Conference, in a recent
letter published in our columns, refers to this
fact. We here insert a line from MIR. Cutting
relating to the same sub ject. 1t is hoped some
of the friends of the needy will regard it as a
duty and privilege, to do something to aid those
whose wants are so pressing. Anything sent to
II care, or forwarded to Mr.. Cutting, will be
promptly sent on to the aid Of Bro. Parker
1t will be understood, however that these do
nations to aid in this time Of peculiar energen-
cy is not to take the place of our annual con-
tributons for the cause Of Missions. If we do
not sustain our missionaries by our regular
contributions through the appropriate channel
Of our Church, our missionaries in their foreign
fields must be called from their labors Let
these collections not be neglected.


Mr. Cutting writes as follows: " AS a large
share of the readers of your paper were ac-
quainted with Rev. E. w. Parker, Of St.
Johnsbury, now missionary of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in Bijnour, India, l think a
sketch of his situation there at the present time
of interest to them generally, and as have fur
A. al, ob
goods as it was necessary for him to have since
he went on the mission, perhaps understand
his position at the present time better than any
other Of his many friends. Doubtless all have
heard ere this Of the great famine now upon
the land of India, and more especially upon the
Northwest Provinces, where the Rev. Mr.. Par
ker's field of labor lies The famine is the re-
suit of the drouth of last season. Instead of
several weeks of steady rain, as is usual in the
rainy season, they had but few days and the
result was total failure of all their crops,
which OF course brings starvation on the mass
of inhabitants The English Government are
doing all in their power for them, yet cannot
keep them all from starving, Hundreds Che
writes) die by the roadside in spite of all that
can be DONE We feed FIVE hundred day, and
yet we can scarcely keep the poor creatuers
around us from dying with hunger The little
we give them is not enough to satisfy their hum
ger-only enough to keep them from starving
to DEATH They will cry for another piece of
bread after eating what is given them, worse
if possible than they did at first. | dare not
give at my house, not even as much as crust
of bread, for if l should do SO | should be so
thronged with beggars that could not get in
or out of my house.


clip the following from Il paper sent by Mr.
p. published in India have seen no grave
statement which paints in too sombre colors the
suffering that exists The general statements
which have been published of the extent and
severity of the suffering from famine, are in no
wise exaggerated In Allyghur they had dur
;nc the whole season but two days rain, and
from thence to Delhi, through the Boolundshu-
her and Meerut districts, you traverse miles OF
uncultivated plain, desert as far as the eye can
reach, excepting an oasis some three or tour
fields deep round each village. Over the greater
nor,;on of this country the rubbee has been
sown In some cases the sowing has been de-
Il we'd. waiting for rain; in others, where water
,os ohtainable. want of seed has prevented SOW