13 



8 millions sterling, the loss of the population was nearly 4 

 millions. The progress of the agricultural classes in the affected 

 districts and of the landless classes in other parts of the Presi- 

 dency received a severe check, from the effects of which, 

 •however, they have since recovered with astonishing rapidity, 

 as is evident from the increase in population, acreage of culti- 

 vation and land revenue, and from the self-reliant manner in 

 which the Presidency has, during the last two years, borne 

 itself against the partial drought which has prevailed in several 

 districts. 



Section V. — Statistics showing the improvement in the condition 

 of the people since 1850. 



22. In the previous pages I have endeavoured to show in a 

 general manner, by the evidence of official reports and other 

 publications, what was the condition of the agricultural classes 

 both before and after the establishment of British power in this 

 Presidency, I will now more particularly examine what pro- 

 gress has been made during the last 40 years under the 

 following heads, viz., {a) population, {b) acreage of cultivation, 

 [c) prices of produce, [d) improvement in the processes of 

 production and in communications, (e) foreign and domestic 

 trade, (/) taxation, and {g) the standard of living of the differ- 

 ent classes of the population. I shall first mention what strike 

 me as note-worthy facts in connection with the heads above 

 enumerated, and then point out their bearing on the economic 

 condition of the people. Detailed statistics bearing on these 

 matters are given in appendix V. 



23. A fairly correct census was taken in 1871 and the 



increaee of population. P^PIjJf ^^^..^.^ ^^^ Presidency was found to 

 be ol^ millions. Owing to the famine of 

 1876-78 the population decreased in 1881 to 3 Of millions. 

 The loss of population was specially heavy in the districts of 

 Kurnool, Bellary and Anantapur, 8alem and Cuddapah, the 

 percentage of loss ranging between 17 and 26. The census 

 taken in 1891 shows that during the last decade the population 

 has increased by no less than 4f millions or 15*6 per cent. 

 The rates of increase in the districts which had suffered severely 

 from the last famine are specially remarkable. These high 

 rates are no doubt mainly due to the fact that the famine 

 killed off disproportionately large numbers of the juvenile and 

 aged population, leaving among the survivors a larger propor- 

 tion than usual of adults of the productive ages. The rapid 

 recorery of the population of a country after great calamities 

 seems ti) be a well attested fact and has often been noticed) 



