 During August and September 1837, reports of both severe drought and the failure of the "kharif" (or autumn) harvest rushed in from different parts of the region.By the time the Governor-General of India, Lord Auckland, assumed charge of the administration of the North-Western Provinces on 1 January 1838, the winter monsoon rains had failed as well, and no "rabi" (or spring) harvest was expected.A famine was, consequently, declared and Auckland commenced a tour of the famine-afflicted regions.