INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

RECENT FAMTNES.
money-should be provided for. Before these
works were undertaken, there had been a famine
of both food and money. The latter
want had now been supplied, but the former
remained. This proposal to import was decisively
negatived on the 26th January 1866.
By this time the Commissioner was alive to
the urgency of the case, and on the 31st he
requested authority to advance money to purchase
rice. The telegram in reply on 1st February
was: "Your message received. The GI)Vemment
decline to import rice into Poon~e. If
the market favours, imported rice will find its
way to Pooree, without Government interference,
which can only do harm." This was
thoroughly disheartening, and for the time being
all thought of importation of food was given up.
Such was the state of affairs on 1st February,
and thus, or nearly so, did it remain till the
- end of May, except that famine was meanwhile
having it very much all its own cruel way.
Direct relief and special relief works were instituted,
but their utility was in a manner paralysed
by want of food.
At last" however, representations from local