Two Little Travellers by B.M. Croker

Gram had fallen to nine seers for the rupee, which affected the sahibs who kept horses and polo ponies; and rice was down to eight measures -- this affected the villagers and ryots. The rains due at Christmas had failed. There was talk of a great scarcity and a sore famine in the land, especially among the sleek, crafty bunnias, who bought up every ounce of grain in the district when it was cheap, and at the first whisper of failing crops -- often a rumour started by themselves -- locked it up relentlessly, in hopes of starvation prices, refusing to sell save at exorbitant rates.

What is a road coolie to do under these conditions? -- a man whose daily wage never exceeds one anna and a half, no matter how markets may fluctuate. Three rupees' worth of grain will keep him alive for twenty days; but how is he to exist for the remainder of the month? How is he to feed his children, to pay his tiny rental, and the village tax?