Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/375

 0612 15 0 13 1 0 17 SIT 367 life from starvation great. Children were disposed of by sale or abandoned ; some reports, which are possibly untrue, say that they were roasted and eaten, “ The famine of 1837 was felt. A little rain fell in the early part of the usual rainy season ; but was not followed by rain, and none fell till the end of Bhadon when it rained for one day only. There was not so great distress here as in parts further west, but the distress was much increased by the influx of people from other parts. Grain sold at eight sers for the rupee. "In 1860 rain fell seasonably but not in abundance, and there was scarcity but not drought or famine. The officer reporting states that he has no knowledge of meteorology or of the divine counsels, and cannot account for the uncertain incidence of famine, Nothing is said about the scarcity of 1864-65, "The Deputy Commissioner of Kheri reports :- It would appear that Oudh was visited by a severe famine in 1253 fasli (1837 A.D.) It is known among the natives as 'tirpanna' from the year 53 or tirpan in wbich it occurred. Grain sold as low as 8 sers and under for the rupee, and there was great distress throughout the land. The scarcity was not in any way owing to local causes, but owing to the influx into the country of the starving population of the North-Western Provinces. " In 1860-61 there was no scarcity although the price of grain rose, owing to the large exports of grain made by the traders in the province to the north-west." In 1865, in 1869, and in 1873, the same thing has happened; the rains ceased early; a poor rice-crop was the result, and there was little water in the tanks for irrigating the spring crops, while there was no rain except an occasional drizzle from October till February. STATEMENT OF PRICES. Retail sale-quantity per rupee. Articles. Md.o. c. M. s. c. Ma. s. c. Md.o.c. Md.n.c. Md. & c. Md. B.O. Wheat, tst quality O 12 1 O 10 18 0 10 15 0 10 13 0 10 5 Ditto, and quality 0 12 4 0 il 2014 0 11 6 0 10 JO Gram, 2nd quality 0 12 18 011 011 4 0 10 10 0 10 13 Báfra. 0 10 4 0 9 14 0 10 0 0 19 10 20 1 0 20 0 0 20 2 0 15 9 0 12 0 13 5 Urd 12 ] 0 10 14 3 17 8 Masur 0 16 B 0 13 14 0 14 0 0 10 4 0 19 5 Móng 08 08 076 0 16 0 0 14 16 Rice, 2Bd quality 07 0 8 10 011 11011 14 July, 1869. August. BE Juár ... 090 Arhar 01. H.. . ... eve 900 . doo det