Notes on the Duty of Government 



[April 



mercantile body is small, in proportion to the mass of the population, 

 and its capital and credit limited: and that these causes, whatever may 

 be the strength of the motives of self-interest, by which the dealers are 

 prompted, must tend greatly to obstruct, if not to prevent the success 

 of any effort, they may make to supply the urgent, and vast demand of 

 districts visited by famine. 



As already observed, the actual fact is, that they do not now in any 

 measure meet this demand, even when supplies have been obtain- 

 able with comparative ease ; and that grain has nut hitherto been 

 introduced by the private merchant in seasons of famine into dis- 

 tricts, in time to prevent the starvation of the population. The single 

 fact, the great morUility of the labouring classes which now takes 

 place in every season of general drovght, appears to me fully to 

 demonstrate of itself, the total ineflicacy of private exertion in the 

 present state of South Indian commerce. But to place this point beyond 

 dispute, I annex a table of the prices of grain at Ganjam, Vizagapatam, 

 and the neighbouring provinces throughout the entire period of the 

 late famine in Guntoor. It will be seen from this table, that in the year 

 1832, W'hilst tens of thousands were perishirg in Guntoor from the want 

 of food and consequent disease, and grain was there more than triple 

 its ordinary price, it was to be had at near markets, with which there 

 was moreover an open sea-communication, at the ordinary rate, or at 

 one-third of the price ; and that throughout the whole period of the 

 famine, private enterprize never brought in enough, either to lower the 

 prices considerably in Guntoor, or to raise them much in Ganjam and 

 Vizagapatam. So manifest is it, that the abundance of one district in 

 South India is not now made, through the instrumentality of private ex- 

 ertions, to supply the deficiency of another. 



Fusly 1231 

 AD. 1831-2 

 Fusly 1232 

 AD. 1832-3 



If it were possible to obtain them correctly, it would be desirable to 

 add to these facts, data which might shew the limited amount of 

 capital in the hands of the grain merchants, and the low state of trade 



Guntoor. 



Ganjam. 



Vizagapa- 



Rajamun- 



Masulipa- 







tam. 



dry. 



tarn. 



Rice Raggy 



Rice Raggy 



Rice Raggy 



Rice Raggy 



Rice Raggy 



I 154,, 197 



50 „ 71 



47 „ 60 



57 „ 65 



59 „ 75 



^ 200,, 218 



61 „ 87 



69 „ 90 



102 „ 141 



123 „ 184* 



* The prices are given for these two important grains for the entire period of the 

 famine, but it is necessary to observe, that Masulipatam also suffered partially from 

 the same drought which atRicted Guntoor, and the high price there, is probably to 

 be accounted for by that circumstance, and not by the supplies, wiihdiawn for the 

 use of Guntoor. 



