278 THE RELIEF OF THE UNEMPLOYED 



over 500,000; on June 19 the numbers stood 963,000; 

 on June 26 they had fallen to 449,000 ; and on July 3 to 

 415,000.' Here, as in March, the natural result of the 

 reopening of the field - work was assisted by the 

 measures of Government. The tasks on the relief 

 works were made more severe, and the scale of wages 

 was hardened ; every means was employed to make 

 the people prefer their normal avocations to the 

 Government relief works. ' The relief measures, 

 which had been carried on patiently and steadily for 

 the past eight months, and in Bundelkhand for over 

 a year, since famine had declared itself, now bore 

 golden fruit. The peasantry had been maintained in 

 health and strength, and were ready with almost 

 unimpaired vigour and in undiminished numbers to 

 commence the tillage of the new crops, on which their 

 fate depended. The resources of the Indian Charit- 

 able Fund had been largely reserved to meet this 

 crisis. By the liberality of the English-speaking 

 public, over 30 lakhs (;^2oo,ooo) of rupees were now 

 distributed among the villagers to purchase seed 

 grain, and replace the plough cattle which they had 

 lost. This munificent charity was liberally supple- 

 mented by advances of State funds to small proprietors 

 and cultivators of the better class. There were some 

 apprehensions that seed grain might not be forth- 

 coming in the parts where famine had been most pro- 

 longed ; but, seeing the people generally possessed 

 the means to pay for it, the traders quickly solved the 

 problem of supply. Assisted and encouraged in these 

 ways, the agricultural community turned with cheer- 

 fulness and resolution to the congenial task before 

 them. . , .* 



Owing to a break in the rains at the beginning of 

 July, there was a temporary check to the decrease in 

 numbers receiving State relief; but as soon as climatic 

 conditions favourable to agriculture were re-estab- 

 lished, the labouring people flocked back to the fields. 



