230 DELHI DISTRICT
towns. The District has altogether 143 miles of metalled and 499 of
unmetalled roads, all of which, except 104 miles of metalled and 83
of unmetalled roads under the Public Works department, are main
tained by the District board. The Jumna is crossed by four ferries,
and the railway bridge at Delhi has a subway for ordinary wheeled
traffic.
The history of famine goes back to the year 1345 in the time of
Muhammad bin Tughlak, when it is recorded that men ate one another.
Famine Subsequent famines occurred in 1631, in the time
, of Shah Jahan ; in 166 t, under Aurangzeb, a severe
famine; in 1739, under Muhammad Shah, famine followed the invasion
by Nadir Shah; and again in 1770, 1783-4, 1803--4, 1813-4, and in
1825-6, when the Sonepat tahsal was severely affected and the entire
revenue was remitted. In 1832-4 and 1837-8 bread riots occurred,
and unlimited relief was offered to those who would work. The famine
of 1860-1 was severe, and 2-7 lakhs was expended on relief works and
gratuitous relief, representing a total number of 12,000 persons relieved
for a whole year. The famine of 1865 was not severe in Delhi. In the
famine of 1868-9 relief works were provided, and altogether Rs. 14,000
was expended, including Rs. 9,ooo from private subscriptions. The
famine of 1877-8 did not materially affect Delhi. In 1896-7 there was
considerable distress ; wheat and bt jra sold at 74 and 82 seers per rupee
respectively, and more than 3,ooo persons were employed on relief
works, and about 4,ooo received food at kitchens. Scarcity again
supervened in 1899-i9oo, but in spite of unfavourable local conditions
the people did not resort to the main relief work provided. The
District is small ; it contains a large city centrally situated, and there
is at all times a demand for labour. The greatest daily average of
persons relieved in 1899-i9oo was 4,374; Rs. 40,694 were spent in
wages on earthwork, and the cost incurred by the municipality was
Rs. 5,699.
The District is in charge of a Deputy-Commissioner, aided by five
Assistant or Extra-Assistant Commissioners, of whom one is in charge
Administration. the District treasury. The treasury here is the
. Bank of Bengal, and there is a currency dep6t at
the courthouse. The District is divided into three tahsils, each under
a tahsilddr and a naib-tahsilddr. Delhi city is also the head-quarters
of the Superintending Engineer, Western Jumna Canal circle, and of
the Executive Engineer, Delhi Provincial division.
Civil judicial work is under a District judge, from whom appeals lie
to the Divisional Judge of the Delhi Civil Division. He is aided by
an Extra-Assistant Commissioner (who is solely employed on civil
judicial work and may be replaced by a Munsif), a Small Cause Court
judge, and one Munsif, besides whom the other Assistant and Extra-
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