INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

II
TRADITIONAL AND
information regarding the 1770 and 1866 famines;
and Girdlestone's official report on
"Past Famines in the North - Western Provinces"
afforded' the material whereon the accounts
of the famiues of the present century,
up to that of 1861, are based. The list of
authorities quoted and examined will be found
elsewhere, and generally their names are also
given in loco.
The first mention of actual famine which I
met with in consulting the translations - of
native authors is that of 942; but before giving
any account of it, I wish to draw attention to an
interesting description of the manner in which
native rulers were in the habit of storing grain, as
a provision against such misfortunes as famine,
invasion, &c. If the methods adopted were at
all applicable to present circumstances, I would
delay the mention of them until I dealt with
preventive and mitigative measures; but this
system of relief is so superficial that it will not
bear inspection by the light of modern political
economy: and I therefore think, that as this
plan of grain-stores will be frequently noticed
.. Elliot's Hiltory of Indi8.