INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

201 PREVENTIVE AND
Europeans-the engine-man and guard-who
accompany it. A sufficient commentary' on this
very matter is the fact, that during the present
famine a body of these functionaries had to be
sent out in hot haste to one of the Indian trunk
lines, to form a reserve, as it were, to meet the
vast strain put upon its European staff by the
increase of work required. Were we behind
the scenes there would be endless instances
corresponding to this last one, all of which have
to be added to our stock of difficulties .
. If, unhappily, influences exist which do not
minister to the wants of the people, there are,
on the other hand a few circumstances which
tend to alleviate the baneful results of famine.
A shipwrecked crew put themselves on short
commons-prudence dictates this course; and
similarly, if prudence is no~ the absolute dictator
in pending famines, avarice for once has
its advantages, and comes to its aid, and both
co-operate to tide over the distress for a time,
if not till succour arrives. In former days, when
natives presided over the destinies of the iIi.~abitants,
these influences were much more active
than in the present day. The idea of a liberal