CHAPTER VII. THE FAMINE ON THE DECLINE. ON October 6 the Government of Madras could write thus hopefully of the prospects of the Presidency: 'The engineering department having been strengthened by the arrival of additional officers, is now in a position to set out and control efficiently many more works. A careful examination has therefore been made of various projects which have been brought forward at different times for the extension or improvement of irrigation works, and those which hold out the best hope of favourable results and are suitable for employment of relief labour, have been selected for execution. The heavy rain storms to which we alluded in our last despatch have caused considerable damage to the southwest branch of the Madras railway, while the freshes in the Palar and Pennair consequent on the rainfall have interrupted for some days the railway crossings of the Southern India Railway over those rivers. Many of the largest tanks in some of the districts are reported as full to overflowing. The rivers in the Cuddapah district have been in flood, while the Cauvery and Kistna continue in fresh. The Godavery, however, has never risen to any material extent during the present season, and the last telegraphic report states that, with all the anicut shutters in position, the depth of water on the crest of the work was only 26 inches, and the river was falling. Should there not be a considerable rise in the river, there must be a serious failure in the delta crops. From the district of Ganjam, where the prices have risen so as to cause considerable distress, the latest reports are better, there having been a fall of rain in the last days of the month, although the rainfall there is still very short. The accounts from Vizagapatam and Kistna indicate improved prospects. "Throughout the Presidency a considerable portion of the growing crops have revived under the influence of the late rains, but the grain yields from them will probably be comparatively scanty. In the extreme south, in Tinnevelly and Madura, the reports show that the greater number of those in distress are the families of coolies who have migrated to Ceylon or elsewhere, under the pressure of high prices. A considerable number of persons are reported to have wandered to Trevandrum. Arrangements are being made for withdrawing them and placing them upon works in connection with the canal communication from Tirur to the Cochin backwater. The imports of grain at Madras have continued large, but within the last week trade has become uncertain, and the export of grain by rail from Madras along the north-western line has been much reduced, not more than half the waggons for that line having been used on some days, and merchants having countermanded their consignments when on the point of being loaded. The imports via Raichore have also shown signs of diminution, and have never approached the average quantity which the Bombay Government led us to hope for. The collectors of the ceded districts have been called upon to consider the effect which such diminution may exercise upon their respective districts, and meanwhile the movements of grain and the state of markets will be narrowly watched.' Among the more interesting papers issued at this |