INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

HISTORICAL FAMINES. 111
of the province becoming desolate," of "the
plough standing still, and numbers of husbandmen
deserting their homes," were reported. By
March it was also announced that the "most
affecting scenes of poverty and distress were
visible; " that" the depopulation in the interior
was now much more rapid than could be well
imagined by anyone who had not been a witness
of it ;" and that in Patna no less than 150
died daily. It is' further recorded, that Purneah,
in the north-east, "which was once a
plentiful country, retains now nothing but the
name of its former abundance. Multitudes already
have and continue to perish of llUnger.
Never was there in any place before so melancholy
a scene." A native official, from whose
reports the foregoing is quoted, while contemplating
this misery, admits that he was not
overruled by his sympathy, and therefore "did
not neglect the interests of the Sircar." * It is
evident that if this frame of mind had prevailed
to any considerable extent among the Company's
officials, we would not have far to seek
for the one main reason of the dreadful results.
• The Government.