344 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



ciated the situation, made a pretence of being frightened, 

 and commenced to shovel up earth again with intense 

 assumed activity. 



The higher relief officials had, of course, greater 

 opportunities of enriching themselves, and that they 

 occasionally availed themselves of them I had also 

 about this time an example. A man came before me 

 as a witness in some case. I had known him when 

 I had previously held office in these parts. He was 

 then very poor; he had some small appointment and 

 nothing besides. He now, from his dress and manner, 

 appeared to be very well off. When he had retired, 

 I remarked to my office people on the change in the 

 man's circumstances, and inquired how it had occurred. 

 The answer I received was suggestive. He had been 

 entrusted with the distribution of the relief funds on 

 the occasion of the last scarcity. 



I will relate another story more serious. I must first 

 explain that the grain in India is not stored in barns 

 or warehouses, as it is here, but in pits beneath the soil. 

 These pits in shape a good deal resemble the "oubliette" 

 dungeons of our mediaeval castles. They are round 

 and deep, grow narrow at the top, and have for their 

 entrance only a small circular aperture. The entrance 

 is covered over with earth, and the situation of the pit 

 often is known only to the owner. 



About the year 1836 — I forget the exact date — there 

 occurred a famine in these upper provinces. I have 

 always heard it spoken of as one of the most terrible 

 ever known. The English Government made every 

 effort to relieve it; nevertheless whole villages were 



