The monsoon of 1868 had been late…

The monsoon of 1868 had been late in coming and, moreover, when it did come, had been light and brief, lasting until only August 1868.

There is shortage of fodder in most areas of Rajputana, and some areas have water shortage as well.

Since the much needed grain can be brought in only on slow camel trains, the stricken areas are more or less inaccessible.

British authorities, having been criticized for the badly bungled relief effort during the Orissa famine of 1866, had begun to discuss famine policy soon afterwards.

The Government of British India organizes famine relief works in the British territory of Ajmer and in neighboring Agra Province of British India.

Many inhabitants of the famine-stricken regions of Rajputana (for example, two-thirds of the population of Marwar) emigrate with their livestock or herds.

Initially, however, they do not go to Ajmer, where relief works have been arranged; many wander in search of food until they die from starvation.

Late in 1868, epidemics of cholera had broken out among the vulnerable population, and there is no harvest in the spring of 1869.

In May 1869, many villagers, who had emigrated earlier, now return to their villages believing that the rains this year will be early.

However, the rains hold off until mid-July, and, in the interim, many thousands more die of starvation.

Even so, the autumn harvest promises to be abundant; however, swarms of locusts descend upon the fields and destroythe young crops.

In September and October 1869, there are heavy rains, which, although good for the spring harvest, cause an epidemic of malaria and kills many more.

In Ajmer, Rs.

49 lakhs are spent in the relief effort, Rs.

5 lakhs in revenue remission, and Rs.

21 lakhs in a new scheme for agricultural credit.

In Agra, another Rs.

30 lakhs are spent in relieving 29 million units (i.e.

one person for one day).

The princely states of Rajputana, however, provide very little relief: only Udaipur State spends Rs.

5 lakhs.

Consequently, the immigration from the princely states into British India in the later stages of the famine begins to overwhelm British efforts, and, in spite of Sir William Muir's newly defined responsibility for each district officer, the resulting mortality is great.

It is thought that over 1.5 million people have died all over Rajputana during the famine.