THE INDIAN FAMINE BELIEF WORKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 10

THE INDIAN FAMINE BELIEF WORKS.

An interesting account of the relief works instituted by the Indian Government on the new canal reaches us (Sfc. J&mea'a Gazette) from Jhelan (Panj*ub). Forty thousand coolies are there congregated, including 12,000 infirm, aged, and blind persons who are classed as non-workers. There i» an immense preponderance of women and children of all ages. The eibe of the present works extend over one mile and a-half along the alignment of the future canal, and' in tho midst of au extensive sandy plain. It is some two miles distant from the river on the southern side. Tfae first visit paid was to the tents of the officials and engineers. Hard by is the bazaar market, a long line of neat huts, made oE matting or thatched grass, running along each side of the sandy street. This is kept perfectly clean and sweet. Most of the huts are occupied by traders in grain, and in front of these heaps of wheat, barley, maize, and millet are piled on the ground. We learn that prices have fallen, slightly in consequence of recent rains ; bufc modern railways and other mean* of communication, while greatly diminishing the danger of actual starvation in any locality, tend to keep prices up to one level everywhere. | That level now is terribly high, and above the reach of tho poorest of the population, apart; from the relief works. Regular traders in the bazaar are furnished with huts by the Government free of cost ; bub some enterprising outsiders have erected similar structures for themselves. _ _ There is also a curious collection of itinerant cobblers and other petty traders. The canal excavation works present a most wonderful and interesting scene. Viewing it from the top oE the highest soil heap is seen an army of 28,000 labourers, all as busy as ants, extending nearly a mile each way* For every man employed in digging three other persons — generally women, young lada, and girls, or men unaccustomed to manual labour — were occupied in carrying the excavated earth in flat baskets on their heads to the soil heaps. Eich gang was supervised by an overseer. Those employed on the works all look healthy, vigorous and cheerful. Lepers are not permitted to remain in tho camp, bub are immediately sent home. A minimum subsistence allowance is, however, sent to them every four days*"

Misses Newton (of Lyttelten) and Mjss Gardiner (of Christchurch) have gone to Melbourco to undergo a special training for Indian mission work,