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in food but is not sufficient to induce them to leave other work for it. 

 This is the main system of relief but in carrying it out great practical 

 difficulties occur. The people are infinitely varied in habits, customs, 

 creeds, castes and languages. Thousands would sooner die than resort 

 to relief camps or touch food which they thought might have been 

 touched by christian, or some other caste. One caste will not eat with 

 another. The shy folk of the hills will not work with the people from the 

 plains. Skilled weavers will not go to ordinary relief work for fear of 

 losing their delicacy of touch. Then there are the sick, the aged and the 

 very young to be cared for. To deal with all these sensitive, suspicious 

 masses the Government has to organize vast temporary establishments. 

 Truly a most tremendous and seemingly hopeless task. But British 

 genius for administration has in a great measure overcome these diffi- 

 culties. The difficulties are lessened by the general orderliness of the 

 people and their willing submission to discipline. On the other hand it is 

 enormously increased by the corruption of the native officials. They 

 have to be employed in large numbers and it is only by the strictest 

 supervision by European officials that discipline can be maintained 

 and corruption kept within reasonable bounds. 



The preparations for famine in India are now just as complete in 

 time of plenty as are the preparations for war among European nations in 

 time of peace. Programmes of suitable relief work, are revised annually in 

 every district, the country is mapped out into relief circles of convenient 

 size, reserves of tools and plants are stocked, and a list of persons suitable 

 on emergency for famine establishments are annually drawn up. Daily re- 

 ports of rainfall, weekly reports of the condition of the people and of the 

 crops are received by the Government so that their information is as com- 

 plete as possible. When the rains show signs of failing preliminary en- 

 quiries are started, a forecast of the probable failure is made and a careful 

 look out is kept for the regular danger signals. Prices begin to rise, the 

 people become uneasy, aimless wandering in search for work occurs, petty 

 crimes against property increase, credit becomes more difficult and grain 

 dealers make large purchases. As soon then as these signals show that 

 famine is imminent the Government provides the funds and declares its 

 policy, so that a telegram from headquarters is sufficient to put relief work 

 into instant operation. 



Famine relief generally begins about September and the numbers 

 naturally go on increasing until the following May when the supreme 

 test comes. Naturally food becomes more difficult to obtain as the days 

 go by, and while the railways may supply this deficiency to a very great 

 extent they cannot prevent the decrease of the water supply and its 

 consequent contamination, so that by the end of May when the weather 



