NORTIIITESTERN PROVINCES AND OUDI. 391 T1 again affected the middle and lower Doab, and produced disastrous results in Bundelkhand. But the most terrible of all famines, since the British occupation, took place in 1837–38. Its effects extended to all parts of the Provinces. In spite of strenuous efforts on the part of the authorities, much disorganization took place the peasantry had recourse in some localities to plunder, the cattle starved and died, wells dried up, grass perished, and the people roamed from place to place in the rain expectation of finding food. Lord Auckland, then Governor-General, left Calcutta to take charge of the local government, and sanctioned the employment of the starving poor on relief works. Nevertheless, hundreds of thousands perished of starvation, the sick or dying lined ihe roads, and pestilence followed in the wake of famine. Between January and July 1838, the relief works at Cawnpur were attended by a vast multitude of people. The revenue suffered to the extent of one and a quarter million sterling. This frightful calanity led to increased attention being given to irrigation works; and the Ganges Canal, shortly afterwards begun, has been largely instrumental in preventing the recurrence of similar distress. Another famine occurred in 1860–61, when relief works were opened throughout the Upper Doáb and Rohilkhand; and the Government made every effort to relieve the starving peasantry. In 1868-69, drought once inore occurred; but, owing to the admirable preventive measures adopted by the authorities, severe distress was confined to the remoter Districts of Bundelkhand. Profiting by the experience of previous years, the Government sketched out beforehand its plan of operations, as soon as it became evident that famine was inevitable; and when the necessity for action arose, each official had his work ready prepared for him. The threatened tracts were marked out into convenient circles, and placed under special superintendence. Works of permanent utility, such as roads and tanks, gave employment to the able-bodied poor, while the aged and infirm received shelter in poorhouses. Every possible care was taken to prevent cases of starvation; and, although to a less extent in the more remote parts of Bundelkhand, the distress was greatly mitigated by the action of the Government. The last famine which affected these Provinces was in 1877–79, and in point of severity it probably did not fall below any of those that have occurred during British rule. The autumn crop of 1877 was a total failure, no rain falling till October, when it was too late to be of use. The succeeding spring harvest of 1878 was damaged by rust, blight, and hailstorms, and in but few places yielded an average crop. Exports kept up the prices almost to fanzine rates all through the hot weather of 1878, and it was only in October and November of that year that
