Plague continued its ravages in Bombay. In the last week of January there were in the city 538 deaths from plague, 82 more than in the previous week. In the first week of March more than 1,000 deaths were set down to this cause. In April there was a decline in this third epidemic, but in early September there was a recrudescence of it in the Bombay Presidency. By the official estimate the total plague mortality throughout India was declared to be not less than 250,000 since the epidemic began. This was probably far below the actual mortality. From evidence given before the Indian Plague Commission in February during the first outbreak in Poona, from January to May, 1897, there were 1,500 deaths from plague in a population of about 90,000, and on the second outbreak, from August to April, 1898, there were 3,633 deaths.
Famine.—Through the failure of the monsoon and the deficient rainfall severe famine was this year again threatened. At the end of September famine relief was being given in Bombay, Rajputana, the Central Provinces and the Punjab. The scarcity was likely to be most severely felt in Rajputana. In October it was estimated that fifty lakhs of rupees would be required to make advances on loan to the native States. On October 20, at a meeting of the Legislative Council, a statement as to the probable area of scarcity was presented. By this forecast 100,000 square miles of British territory, with a population of 15,000,000, and 250,000 square miles in native States, with a population of 15,000,000, were affected. The season continued practically rainless, and at the close of the year the numbers employed on relief works were as follow: In Bombay, 475,000; Punjab, 110,000; Central Provinces, 1,027,000; Berah, 156,000; Ajmere, 111,000; Rajputana, 132,000; Central India, 48,000; Bombay States, 321,000, and Baroda, 61,000—total, 2,451,000. On account of the usual winter rains failing to appear, famine increased in the affected districts. It was estimated that relief expenditure would cost the Indian Government quite 2,000,000l. before the close of the financial year.
Bengal.—An appalling disaster occurred in Northern Bengal at Darjeeling and vicinity on September 25, involving great loss of life and immense destruction of property. Serious landslips were caused by a terrible storm accompanied by earthquake shocks. Within twenty-four hours twenty inches of rain fell. Nine European children lost their lives at Darjeeling, including five children of Mr. Lee, a Methodist Episcopal missionary. Some seventy natives also were killed near by. Four Europeans—two railway officials and two planters—were swept away and drowned by the heavy floods on the river Tista at Jalpaiguri. From Jalapahar to Birch Hill nearly 1,000 acres of tea plantations were destroyed. A part of the eastern slopes fell away 3,000 feet. At Bhool the bazaar was completely destroyed, and 200 natives were overwhelmed and killed.
