History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c44.150

v2.c44.150

In the Puri district, which is more fertile than the others, the most severe famine was that of 1865-66. The scarcity began in this district in October 1865. Crops failed in 1864, there was regular drought in 1865 and standing crops were destroyed by inundations in August 1866. Therefore the famine was more severely felt in this district than in any other part of Orissa. It began earlier in Puri than in Katak or Balasore. A little rice was imported from the south across the Chilka Lake in boats but it failed to meet the demand. Before the Ganjam supply arrived, the price of rice in the Puri district was six seers to the rupee and after its arrival it fell to 7 1/4 seers to a rupee. The Government now imported 2549 bags, which were being sold in the Bazar at 6 local seers or 7 7/8th seers standard. Another steamer arrived at the roadstead with a cargo of 12476 bags, but the monsoon set in and the cargo had to be landed with very great difficulty and the entire cargo took seven weeks to reach the land. But a brig which had brought 1500 bags of rice from Gopalpur in Ganjam was forced to return without discharging its cargo. There was great distress throughout the district and in August the Collector was compelled to restrict the sale of rice to each individual to one rupee a day and on the 13th of this month sale of rice had to be stopped altogether. On the last day of the month another ship arrived with 7453 bags and in September relief operations were largely extended. Another dearth of rice took place in October and the Collector was compelled to sell eight annas' worth of rice only to each applicant and then to stop the sale altogether. Relief works continued from the stock in hand and one of the *Mahants* of a *Math* supplied 15000 maunds of unhusked rice for free distribution. New stocks were imported into the district in November and sales began. With the approach of new rice famine abated. The greatest mortality was in the month of August when thousands of people died both from starvation and through the eating of uncooked rice by paupers.