194 



Effects of the Famine of 1838. 



[No. 30, 



< one year reduced as they now are, many works might be exe- 

 cuted, which would be calculated to mitigate at least, perhaps 

 even in great measure to avert, the worst evils of famine from 

 the Guntoor district, which until some such works are carried 

 on to a much larger extent than hitherto, must remain parti- 

 cularly exposed to such misfortunes. So much money laid 

 out in the course of a few years in the district would be of 

 the greatest assistance to the remaining ryots there. — It 

 would enhance the price of the grain which they sell and 

 would enable them with smaller sacrifice to meet the demands 

 of the government. 



The intervals between seasons of scarcity do not often ex . 

 ceed twelve years — and it is now between eleven and twelve 

 years since the great famine occurred. — 



1818, 1823, 1824, 1832 and 1833 were five years of famine 

 in all which the garce of cholum, food for about 100 people 

 for one month, cost nearly or more than 200 Rs. and the pri- 

 ces of the inferior grains cumboo, raghy and wurugoo all ex- 

 ceeded 150 Rs. In 1818, the prices were very nearly as high 

 as in 1832. Besides these, it will be observed from an exami- 

 nation of the list of prices annexed which extends from fusly 

 1219 (A. D. 1808-9) to fusly 1252 (A. D 1841-42) a period 

 of 84 years, the years 1813, 1814, 1817, 1819, 1820, 1821, 

 1822, 1823, 1825, 1834, have all been bad years, in which 

 the garce of inferior grain has been worth 120 Rs. or more. 

 In such years, the poor man can afford food for his family, 

 but nothing else. 



