1 FAMINES. 161-
2 294. “In the period of prosperity subsequent to
3 The British an- annexation, the Punjab was not immune
4 neration: wary from drought and famine, but the terrors.
5 of Famine, of these visitations diminished at each
6 return as the spread of knowledge among the people and
7 the development of resources enabled Government to cope:
8 with them more and more effectively. In 1851-52 there.
9 was a drought amounting almost to famine. In 1860
10 famines raged to the east of the Sutlej, and wheat rose at
11 Delhi from 24 to 8 seers the rupee. Relief was then or--
12 ganised by Government for the first time. In Rohtak
13 960,000 people were relieved, in Karnal 22,000 were fed
14 in a single month. In 1868-69 a famine of even greater:
15 severity devastated the same tract, nearly ten millicn
16 persons received a day’s rations, and half as many more
17 were employed on relief works. In Karnal alone, two
18 million a P were fed, and the daily average for. 1869 ~
19 reached 14,000. Notwithstanding this the loss of life was
20 considerable. Again in 1877-78 drought prevailed east.
21 of the Sutlej, and the country narrowly escaped a famine.
22 Relief was given promptly and effectively, and the period
23 of danger and anxiety passed.
24 295. A study-of the gradual development of the re-
25 onaiks sources of Government will show how
26 mdition of the . : :
27 people before and inverted is the popular perspective of the:
28 after the enner- Golden Age. In the early days after
29 annexation there were no communications
30 worthy of the name (para. 280). The bad condition and
31 insecurity of the roads.and the levy of vexatious transit
32 and customs dues prevented exportation of grain to any
33 distance, and the people of one tract starved for food
34 while plenty reigned in neighbouring districts. Supplies
35 could only be sent up to the affected area by country carts.
36 at the rate of ten miles a day. Even in the early sixties
37 the difficulties of transit were so considerable as to give
38 cause for anxiety as to the dispatch of relief. The con-
39 trast between the resources then at the disposal of Govern--
40 ment and those now available is remarkable. To-day
41 when one part of India is visited with protracted drought
42 the high prices automatically attract foodstufis from
43 uarters a rates are cheaper, and railroads diffuse
44 the means of subsistence until prices become equalised.
45 296. In 1888 the Famine Code of the Punjab was
46 _ issued to give practical effect to the recom~
47 The Famine Code’ mendations of the Famine Commission.
48 7 M