from what a relative called 'cold fever,' and in April only three persons remained. A sister of the three women heard of their distress, and in March started on a journey of one hundred miles, alone, with money and medicine, to succour her relatives, but the news had reached her too late. On her return she reported that in the same village in which her sisters lived twelve whole families had died and their houses were empty. Careful examination of agricultural returns showed that two millions and a half acres less than the average were under cultivation. This may be taken as the measure of loss Government is likely to suffer for many years to come in a diminished land revenue. In March a partial census was taken, revealing a most terrible mortality. In some places twenty-five, in one thirty per cent. of the people had died. In the month of April it was found that fears had been exaggerated. The condition of the people, and the quantity of crop reaped, proved better than had been expected. Sir Michael Kennedy estimated the cost to the end of distress at fifty lakhs of rupees, and hoped the south-west monsoon would wash away all traces of the distress which had extended over a period of nearly two years. Seasonal prospects were favourable; the signs of the weather cheering. The Government of Madras proceeded to the Blue Mountains on pleasure bent in April, and all fear of long-continued distress was dismissed from the official forecast. Honours were gazetted to the more meritorious officers connected with the famine on May 24, 1878. Mr. Stewart Bayley was made a Knight Commander of the Star of India; Colonel Drever, Mr. J. H. Garstin, Mr. R. Davidson, Mr. C. A. Elliott, Major ScottMoncrieff, and the Hon. James Gibbs, were made Companions of the Star of India. Municipality 5,287 Hassan 3,291 668,417 2 3,188 2,154 190,873 12,310 1 84 4,13 2 3,172 34 Districts in HYDERABAD (THE NIZAM'S) It has been found impracticable to include the Returns from Hyderabad in this Table. 82 84 86 E.Weller, lith, London. |