The news from India seems to us, as we have
explained else- where, most disastrous—amounts, indeed, to an acknowledgment that the famine is upon us a month too soon ; that the c irriage arrangements have broken down ; and that the cruel and unjust labour-test must be instantly abandoned. If not, the India
, Council may be responsible for a massacre. Nothing can now prevent famine, actual death, among the labouring classes, and probably among the higher classes, for Sir R. Temple mentions that they are hurrying to the relief works, except the distribution of food among the villages. For the food there is no fear ; Lord Northbrook has got that ; but for trans- port there is every fear, and but one hope—that grain will be carried in the ancient way to the villages, in earthern jars on men's heads or slung on poles. Note that Sir R. Temple is making a gallant and perfectly hopeless attempt to save the cattle by importing fodder from the North. Fodder takes too much room, and hay presses are unknown. Note also that he reports "all markets to have ceased." The muhajuns, or grain dealers, have not the capital for the crisis, and the policy of not interfering with them has failed.
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