Notes: 

1.  Irrigation by means of a ‘dug-out’ canoe used as a lever is commonly practised in many parts of the country.  The author gives a rough sketch, not worth reproduction.  The Persian wheel is suitable for use in wide-mouthed wells.  It may be described as a mill-wheel with buckets on the circumference, which are filled and emptied as the wheel revolves.  It is worked by bullock-power acting on a rude cog-wheel.

2.  December, 1835.

3.  A.D. 1833 corresponds to the year 1890 of the Vikrama Samvat, or era, current in Bundelkhand.  About 1880 the editor found this great famine still remembered as that of the year ’90.

4.  Half a crown seems to be used in this passage as a synonym for the rupee, now (1914) worth a shilling and four pence.

5.  Bundelkhand seems to be the meeting-place of the east and west monsoons, and the moist current is, in consequence, often feeble and variable.  The country suffered again from famine in 1861 and 1877, although not so severely as in 1833.  In northern Bundelkhand a canal from the Betwa river has been constructed, but is of only very limited use.  The peculiarities of the soil and climate forbid the wide extension of irrigation.  For the prevention of acute famine in this region the chief reliance must be on improved communications.  The country has been opened up by the Indian Midland and other railways.  In 1899-1900, notwithstanding improved communications, Malwa suffered severely from famine.  Aurangzeb considered Gujarat to be ‘the ornament and jewel of India’ (Bilimoria, Letters of Aurungzebie, 1908, no. lxiv).

6.  The influence of trees on climate is undoubted, but the author in this passage probably ascribes too much power to the groves of Malwa.  On the formation of the black soil see note 7 to Chapter 14, ante.

7.  The word in the author’s text is ‘grain’, a misprint for ‘gram’ (Cicer arietinum), a pulse, also known as chick-pea, and very largely grown in Bundelkhand.  ‘Gram’ is a corruption of the Portuguese word for grain, and, like many other Portuguese words, has passed into the speech of Anglo-Indians.  See Yule and Burnell, Glossary of Anglo-Indian Words, s.v.

8.  ‘Agricultural capitalist’ is a rather large phrase for the humble village money-lender, whose transactions are usually on a very small scale.

9.  The author’s advice on the subject of famine relief is weighty and perfectly sound.  It is in accordance with the policy formulated by the Government of India in the Famine Relief Code, based on the Report of the Famine Commission which followed the terrible Madras famine of 1877.

10.  This statement is too general.  Examples of the horror alluded to are recorded in several Indian famines.  Cases of cannibalism occurred during the Madras famine of 1877.  But it is true that horrors of the kind are rare in India, and the author’s praise of the patient resignation of the people is fully justified.  An admirable summary of the history of Indian famines will be found in the articles ‘Famines’ and ‘Food’ in Balfour, Cyclopaedia, 3rd ed. (1885).  For further and more recent information see I.G. (1907), vol. iii, chap. 10.