Report on the Administration of the Punjab and its Dependencies, for 1919-20 to 1923-24 (bounded together)

· 1921 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

114 PUNJAB ADMINISTRATION REPORT.

2was, however, found necessary to distrib ute over Rs. 15,000

3in taccavi.

49>-Condition of the peorle.

558. The year proved to be an exceptionally healthy one, .

6and, apart from outbreaks of cholera and small-pox, the

7absence of epidemics was remarkable. There was no recrude-

8scence of influenza, which worked such appalling havoe in

9the previeus year; while the fever mortality was little

10in excess of the average of the last balf century. The birth-

11rate, although rather bigher than that of the previous twelve

12months, was below the quinquennial average. The decline

13is in effect ihe sequel to the influenza epidemic of 1918.

14Births were, however, more than a quarter of a million in

15excess of deaths.

1659. The spring harvest of 1919 was below normal, and

17the autumn harvest about normal. Prices, although ruling

18high, were not maintained at the level of the previous year,

19partly owing to restrictions on free export and partly owing

20to the character of the harvests. The agricultural community

21on the whole enjoyed another prosperous year, as did the

22commercial classes who were assisted at the close of the year

23by a rising exchange. There was the usual unsatisfied

24demand on all sides for labour.