342 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



I remained for the day at the canal head. The next 

 morning I continued my march, proceding, as before, 

 along the canal bank. Canals, as a rule, are straight 

 and formal ; but this canal, laid out in unscientific days, 

 is different. It bends, it winds, it narrows, and widens 

 again with all the variety of a river. The banks are 

 broad, and are bordered with avenues of shady trees. 

 Bridges cross it continually, and at intervals of every 

 few miles there are locks and falls ; and at many of the 

 falls the water is utilized to turn small mills for the 

 grinding of corn. Before the first march was completed 

 I had entered the cultivated country ; the second march 

 brought me home. 



I have mentioned that the late harvest had been 

 deficient in quantity, and that some fears were enter- 

 tained that it would be followed by a scarcity. Before 

 the cold weather had passed these apprehensions were 

 realized. There was such want of food, so much 

 distress, that the Government thought it necessary to 

 give assistance. The assistance was given quickly and 

 liberally. In all the districts where the scarcity pre- 

 vailed relief works were established, and those in 

 want of food were provided with employment. The 

 employment was chiefly on the roads, and consisted 

 in repairing or improving them. 



As the men thus employed amounted in every 

 district to many thousands, a large number of officials 

 were required to overlook and to pay them ; and these 

 officials had to be selected and appointed in extreme 

 haste. Under such circumstances, there was oppor- 

 tunity for much peculation which the European 



