INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

RECENT FAMINES. 65
officers having in the mean time continued, and
the accounts having become most harrowing, on
the 29th May the Lieutenant-Governor ordered
importations; and from "this time," the Orissa
Famine Commissioners report, "it may be said
that for a few days the famine was, if it may be
so expressed, half realised." By the 19th of June
they say: "From this time it may be said that,
if the whole severity of the famine was not
completely known, at any rate it was recognised
to be of a degree sufficient to require all
efforts, and all was done that could be done by
any ordinary means." But, now that importation
was authorised, a further difficulty arose.
The isolated character of Orissa has before been
described, and the question presented itself,
How could the measure for importation be
carried into effect? The sea was the only open
highway, but now the" elements" were in conjunction
with the enemy-they added to the difficulties
of the sea-coast. These difficulties were,
however, partially overcome, and a modicum of
rice was imported. The Famine Commissioners
observe, that had the expedition been a military
one, some professional assistance to aid in
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