INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

HISTORIOAL FAMINES. 29
like it, and as to threaten a famine." The previous
famine which I have mentioned was that
of 1661, and there is no record that I am at
present aware of which notes any famine or
scarcity intervening between 1661 and 1770.
Yet from the expression here used in this letter,
it may be inferred that famine was not unknown,
and that we may be certain that the
unrecorded scarcities to which India has been
subject, equal, if they do not very considerably
exceed, those now known in history. This letter
to the Court of Directors continues: "As
there is the greatest probability that this distress
will increase, and a certainty that it cannot
be alleviated (~ for six months to come, we
have ordered a stock of grain sufficient to serve
our army during that period to be laid up in
proper storehouses; and we have taken and
shall pursue every means in our power to relieve
the miserable situation the miserable inhabitants
must be involved in from this dreadful
calamity, but we cannot flatter ourselves
that all our endeavours will prevent very fatal
results being felt, or that human means can
check its baneful influence.