78 Azotes on Hyotwar, or Permanent Annual Money Rents. [Jan. 



purchasing grain in the markets of those districts, in which famine pre- 

 vailed ; and that it should be required to import its supplies from 

 places, where grain was comparatively abundant. By this means, the 

 stocks of the district would be left available to the retail trader ; and it 

 is more than probable, that as the scarcity increased in severit}^, the 

 Commissariat might be made instrumental in supplying from its stores 

 the local market with foreign grain, at a cost, which should cover all 

 expense of carriage, and yet greatly mitigate, if not prevent famine. I 

 will not however pursue this subject — the object of these remarks is 

 not so much to advocate particular measures of relief. But rather to 

 induce a full exaraination of the doctrine laid down in the Government 

 orders; and to endeavour to ascertain, whether it be an indisputable truth 

 to be taught to all our native servants, that injury must invariably re- 

 sult from any interference of Government in seasons of dearth in this 

 country. And to lead to the important enquiry, whether there are not, 

 as Dr. Smith seems from his guarded language to admit, means open to 

 the Government, which may not be improper for it to adopt in periods 

 of drought, by which that most dreadful scourge, the absolute famines 

 which now periodically desolate our provinces may be wholly prevented, 

 and scarcity at all times greatly mitigated, without a departure from 

 sound general principles, and at no great charge on the finances of the 

 State. 



III. — On Improviyig Internal Communication in the Carnatic, — - 

 By J. Kellie, Esq., Assistant Surgeon. 



The expence of transport of goods from Madras to Trichinopoly, 220 

 miles, is about 35 rupees, or £o 10s. per ton, which is nearly as 

 much as the present price of freight from Madras to London. — Captain 

 Cotton's Report. 



With the view of facilitating intercourse and giving a spur to com- 

 mercial enterprize, it was some time ago in contemplation to construct 

 an iron railroad betwixt Madras, and the large towns of Conjevaram 

 3ind Wallajanuggur. 



That the project w^as a most enlightened one, and would fully have 

 sustained many of the expectations of its original projectors, all, who 

 have regarded with attention the amazing benefits derived from similar 

 undertakings in other parts of the world, must confidently have expected, 

 and every one who takes an interest in the progress of civilization in 



