The Southern Drought

Abstract

YOU ask in last week's NATURE (p. 436) for information respecting the drought in the southern hemisphere. A few days ago I received letters from Samoa and the Gilbert Islands telling me of its severity there. Droughts are of frequent occurrence in the Gilbert Islands, but my correspondent (a native of Samoa) tells me they have had an extraordinary one there, which commenced in 1876, and which continued up to the date of his letter—December 4, 1877. He says many of the people have died from starvation in consequence.