We are indebted to the Rev. E. C.
Lobeastine for the following account of the famine in North Anbai The people in the northern part of the Province of Anhui are face to face with one of the worst famines in their history. The rainfall this summer was the greatest of which there is any record, and the automa crops were a total failure over a region of spproximately seven thousand square miles. It estimated that two and a half millions of people are affected, and the death-roll of the coming months is bound to be very great, unless adequate relief can be given.
In order to acquaint myself with the actual conditions, I made, a few weeks ago, two trips into the famine district. The one took me from Haaiynan along the banks of the Ko river. This river marks the southern boundary of the affected region, the famine not are supposed to bare been extending,.so far aa I was able to learn, south of the river except in a few places where the land is very low. I found that the whole of the country lying to the north and east had been fi voded daring the sammer, and that Jittle or nothing had been harvested. The land jast north of the river, which ordinarily even io times of flood is high enough not to be seriously affected, was from one to three fect under water daring the days following the heavy summer rains and the crops were everywhere flooded out. So desperate wore the Iready in September, as they saw da by, or who was reported to hive ay money. Some of these bands wore well-orme', and for weeks not " night passed but had its story of robbery and marder to tell. The country people" were terrified. Embankments were thrown up around all the villages in a remarkably short apace of ti the people from the moved into these fortified centres. Bat they were quite unable to protect themselves, and hed it not been for ti prompt action of the authorities avai ing thomselres of the newly-built Tientsin-Pukou railroad to send troops into the country, the local situation might have become very serious. As it the soldiers have been able to keep' the people, although driven to desperation by banger, from gathering together in large bands, and the large number of executions in ach of the yauéas has pat an end toe large proportion of the robberies. My trip extended only to Mengeben, one hundred and fifty li north-west of Hasiyean, so that I did not get into the Koyanghsia and Pochon I was assured that the of things existed right on up to the borders of Honan.
The second trip, made io company with Mr. Carter, s new arrival at Hasiynao, took ws directly across the centre of the famine district, The area affected includes the whole section of Anbai which lies north and east of the Huai and Ko rivers, It includes the districts of Huaiyuan, Mengchen, Koyang, Heiichon Tooally Napbsiichoa, to distinguish it from Hoiichoafa in Kiangen), Lingpi. Srichou and Wubo, Other districts fre ssid to be allected also, but I have personal information regarding them.
Several small rivers flow from the north-west to the south-east through of the Province, and it was long their banks that the loss of life and of property was the worst, The whole country is flat, the only bills being some thirty or more li north of Naubsiichou, yo that when the heary rains fell la the early summer the whole jconntry was turned iota a vast lake, with swift arrests to mark the river courses. The rise of the water was ory rapid, taking place in one night, and cores if not burdrad" of vil-ages were swept away. Thousands drowned.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.