The Famine news of the week indicates little real change
in the position. There is a report of 500 deaths in Hattee, a subdivi- sion of Tirhoot previously stated to be in great danger ; but relief has been afforded, and the Viceroy appears to believe that, in Tirhoot at least, the precautions are sufficient. This is also the belief of our own correspondent, who says almost too much is being done for Behar. A report that the grain stored up, rice excepted, is perishing, is most serious, but proof is needed that the statement applies to more than one locality. The worst fact established seems to be that in Tirhoot' the tanks and wells are drying up quite five weeks before the full rains can be expected. The number of • persons upon the relief-works is given at 767,492, and apparently this applies to Tirhoot alone, and is entirely independent of the numbers fed in the villages,—as, for example, in the " bad " sub-district of Baheyra, where " the most wretchedare being fed by the head- men in their homes." We have elsewhere attempted to describe the phase into which the famine has now entered, and our readers will find in our correspondence an account of the exertions made to save Behar. The writer's account, though too favour- able as to the result of all these efforts, his date being March 11, is that of one of the few Anglo-Indians who know what famine actually means.
