INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

AND PRESS CRITICISM. 147
country; and it seems probable that this very
idea prevented the necessary im portation of
grain being taken vigorously in hand by the
Government. Nor should it be forgotten that
the mistake would be almost as great if the
opposite opinion was to be assumed without due
inquiry. The following quotation, bearing on
this subject, from a letter written by the Commissioner
of Cuttack, and produced in the evidence
before the Orissa Famine Commissioners,
is instructive and rather amusing: "No one
appears to allow, or to wish it known, that he
possesses rice in any quantity. I was present at a
meeting of the chief native landholders and merchants
of Balasore, when liberal subscriptions
were freely offered to the relief fund. The
question then turned on where rice could be
procured for the money subscribed. The result
was, that each individual accused the rest of
possessing stores of grain, the imputation being
indignantly repudiated. After a long discussion,
some began to offer to supply a certain
quantity, say 100 maunds,· if a second person
• Maund = 80 lb. See footnote, page 13, where the
correct spelling of the word is adopted.
K