FAMINE IN THE SOUDAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2817, 2 August 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

FAMINE IN THE SOUDAN.

«, DREADFUL SCENES. Mr 11. H. Howurtii has sent to the Times the following extracts from a lettjr from u friend at Suakin :—" You have no idea of the awful state of misery the country is in. The population is absolutely starving, and the people arc like living skeletons. Only the very wealthy formerly have still something left. Of course the greatest misery is among the widows and children of the men we have killed, and we must have disposed of at least 3), 000, and those hud considerably over 100,000 dependent upon them, so you can guess the locil misery. It does seem hard, after killing the breadwinners, to leave the innocent women and children to utter destitution and a painful death. I have two children here sent me from Tokar. Their mothers, sisters, brothers, and all friends died of starvation. I am going to get them weighed when I get to Suakin. Their united ages may be 15, and 1 am willing to back they don't weigh -lf>!b. between them. Cannibalism has taken place ; everything moving lias been eaten. Dogs, cats, rats, donkeys, snakes, li/.mls, old bones, leather, are eagerly devoured, and the stronger take by force from the weaker. I have seen a big boy seize a small one and try to strangle him for the fooil that was in his mouth, and many other awful sights. A subscription has been started, which enables the Relief Committee to feed about .SOOO of the worst cases, and to start a mat hospital for the sick. This is at Suakin. At Tokar the starvation is worse ; between f>o and 100, sometimes over, die dailj. Kassala is still worse, whole families being found dead in their houses. At Gallabat aud Gedarif the population nearly ceases '.o exist; at Berber, Schendy and Mctemmeli the same. At llalaib, Mahamed Ghoul, and Aglig the distress is also intense. Ido hope something will be done. Our Suakin committee consists of the Governor-General, the Consul, the senior naval officer, the senior army doctor, an Anglo Egyptian colouel, the Greek Vice-Consul, and two native merchants. Thank God, you at home don't know half the misery we see !"— Mr Howorth, in forwarding the letter to the Times, says : —" We have a terrible responsibility in the matter. We slaughtered its best and most vigorous men, and then we abandoned it to the vulture and the jackal. In the view of sonic of usi our campaign in the Soudan, which might have opened up the laud of Cain to a more hopeful future, but which was a mere carnival of purposeless slaughter, followed by a shameful retreat from our responsibilities, is one of the greatest crimes in our annals. We surely owe some reparation to the starving widows and the poor helpless orphans, who are dying in hundreds where their fathers' bouts still lie unburied."