INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

MITIGATIVE MEASURES. 209
We have one source to look to for prophetic
light-viz., the recurrence of famines at stated
periods, but the results are not encouraging.
The following, however, is the opinion
of the Orissa Famine Commissioners on this
subject: "Colonel B. Smith has remarked on
the rough periodicity of famines; and it may
be said that these local famines recur in one
part of the country or other every 5, 10, or 15
years. The following we know to have happened
in the range of inquiries our subject has
led us, within the memory of the present
generation: "-
"1832-33. Lower parts of the Madras territory
j food supposed to have
reached three or four times the
ordinary price.
1837-38. Lower Doab and some Ilfljoining
districts of the North-Wegtern
Provinces j food reached three
times the ordinary price,
1863-54. Higher parts of the Madras territory;
food reached three or
four times the ordinary price,
1860-61. Upper Doab and adjoining districts
of the North-Western
Provinces j food reached four
times the ordinary price,
IntervaL
li years.
16
7
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