282 THE RELIEF OF THE UNEMPLOYED 



state the problem more accurately, the prevention of 

 the periodic unemployment of a large proportion of 

 the population. A little consideration will show that 

 there are two ways in which the solution of this 

 problem may be approached in India. The first is 

 to free the agricultural industry from its dependence 

 upon the chances of the weather, and the second is 

 to diminish the number of people dependent upon 

 agriculture. 



The principal cause of the suspension of agriculture 

 in India is drought ; frosts and floods do from time to 

 time injure the crops and inflict serious damage upon 

 the cultivator, but I know of no instance in which they 

 have suspended agricultural occupations as completely 

 as a prolonged drought does. If, therefore, the culti- 

 vators can be provided with an adequate supply of 

 water for irrigation the agricultural industry is prac- 

 tically secured against interruptions. Artificial irriga- 

 tion in the United Provinces may be provided from 

 canals or tanks or wells ; these constitute the most 

 important part of the fixed capital which has been 

 sunk in agriculture, and they have, therefore, already 

 been described in the chapter upon agricultural 

 capital. It is only necessary here to refer shortly to 

 the extent to which these works have rendered agri- 

 culture independent of the rainfall. The Northern 

 Doab during the first epoch (1783- 1853) was par- 

 ticularly subject to famine. In six out of seven 

 famines between 1783 and 1837 the Doab was the 

 scene of the most acute distress ; in the words of the 

 Indian Irrigation Commission, 'before the introduction 

 of canal irrigation the districts composing this tract 

 were among the most insecure in Northern India; 

 and the construction of the Ganges Canal was largely 

 due to the impressions produced by the sufferings of 

 the famine of 1837.' With this may be contrasted the 

 security which now reigns in this region, which is 

 officially described as 'protected against famine.' 



