The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-27
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, APRIL 81, 1858.

various and so contradictory, that it was found to
be manifesty impossible to form with accuracy any
opinion whatever upon the origin of the revolt
All that was known was, that some one hundred
and fifty thousand men, upon the preteXt of being
forced to violate their caste by the use of creased
cartridges suddenly, and almost simultaneously.
raised the standard of rebellion, and marching to
Delhi, clustered around the octogenarian King
pensionary of the East India Compny-and
proclaimed the restoration of the ancient Mogul
dynasty. The Sepoy troops of the East India
Company have been privileged sodery Their
caste distinctions have been recognized their relig-
ious prejudices respected, and their ealty assured
by a per diem which has ever been regarded in
India as liberal, and by immunities not extended
to the rest of the Hndoo population. Trained to
arms under European officers, and deriving conf
dence in the field from the presence of European
soldiers these men have frequently distinguished
themselves and have been so often praised for their
courage and fidelity, that they came at length to
regard themselves as the main support of British
Power in India, and the arbiter of the Destiny of
that Company whose salt they had eaten and
whose battles they had fought. Composed mostly
of high caste Hindoos, they dsdained to undertake
any Of those mental offices which are usually per-
formed 10y the rank and file of an army, and re-
strlcted their duties solely to the profession of arms
The indulgence accorded to the earlier Sepoy batta-
ions was polite and necessary. The European
troops were few in number and incapable of MAIN
tanning in torrid zone, and amid the malarious
exhaatons of dense junges, that high condition of
health and muscular vigor which characterized
them at home. Native to the SOIL Injured to the
climate, accustomed to light vegetable diet from
which the beef fed English soldier turned With dis
gust, the spare and sinewy Sepoys, well drilled
and well Differed were found admirably adapted
to the lighter duties they Were called upon to per-
form, and were supposed to be attached both by
interest and inclination to their European superors
But the Hindoos have been for ages trcacherous
race. They have sought and found in cunning q
compensation for their want of physical strength
and beneath mild exterior have concealed a tiger
like ferocity STEPPED in religious fanatcism they
have regarded sacrifices to Juggernaut HASTINGS
macerations, sutteeism, selEtorture, and above ALL
the preservation of the distinctions of caste rs fit
propitiations of the deity they worshipped and as
having an essential influence upon their future
state. To these prejudces even among the Hindoo
masses the authorities in India for long period
paid unusual Difference but emboldcned DIV in
of power and territorial extension. and re-
posing too much reliance upon the fidelity of the
native troops they finally put an end to the SAN
culinary horrors which invariably attended the fes-
tival of Jaggernaut, and abolished by decree the
burning of IIindoo widows. Not a murmur es-
capped the lips of the Hindoo Civilian, nor did the
Sepoy betray among his European comrades the
least resentment against these bold innovations
upon his cherished creed. They were deeply felt
nevertheless. The time, however was not come
when they could take a bloody revenge, and of all
men they best knew how to watch and wait
They witnessed the influx of Christian
missionaries but made no sign of aver.
sion. Brahmins of high caste even consented
to serve as domcstcs in European households, and
found some relnital for their disgust and humilia-
ton in splitting secretly at the food which was pre-
pared for their masters table. The Bengal Sepoys
prlded themselves upon their caste and were sens-
tive to the least change that bore with it even the
semblance of contamination Unlike the native
troops Of the Bombay Presidency who gathered their
families about them in garrison or cantonmcnt
they claimed and were permitted leave of absence
at stated periods for the purpose of visiting their
homes. Mixing thus with the most prejudiced of
the population, and entertaining similar religious
views, they were enabled to communicate not only |
with their comrades throughout Northwestern |
India, but also to arrange the plan of the mutiny
and simultaneous action. But wears elapsed before |
the opportunity arrived, and in the meantime every
flncied grievance was cherished until it could he
avenged. paper written by Shaik Heddyut Ali, |
Chief of the Calcutta Police and translated recent
~ by Captain Ratray, records the opinion of an
intelligent native as TO the various causes in which
the mutiny originated. After promising that the
iiindoos are proverbially foolish on the score of
religion, he states that the first symptoms of disaf-
lection were shown in 1888, when the Sepovs
were ordered to Cabul, tradition having taught
them that the lindoo religion extended no further
than the Indus. BY crossing this stream they i'm
agined they had suffered in their caste. Again in
1888, being compelled to serve in Affghanistau
they became disconnected, because in consequence of
Inc extreme cold, they were constrained to abstain
from bathing, and the performance of the other
acts which their form of religion demanded They
were Obliged also to receive their food from the
fands OF Mahomcdans, and imagining they had
thereby lost their caste, became much dissatisfied
and disguised. Another. grievance followed -
When the winter set in, thev received from their
olllcers sheepskins with the wool on, to protect
them from the cold, at which, though they used
them they were greatly incensed, as no Hindoo
even OF the lowest caste, likes to touch the skin of
a dead animal. But they smothered their anger,
saying to each ohter, eff we betray our feelings,
we shall not be allowed to return to Hindostan.n
I'm 1870 the Senovs ,varo d;.rIoo,ol -.
again sent to Cabul to meet with second defle-
ment while the Mahomedans murmured at ''being
forced to fight against people of their own creed
which was forbidden in the Koran"
On their return none of the Hindoos in Hindos-
tan would eat with their comrades who had |
been in Afghanistan but looked upon them
as outcasts and treated them accordingly. |
mutny broke ont at that time in consequence |
OF the injury these men imagined they had suffered
In Their CASTE but 1t was speedily suppressed The
war IN the Punjaub increased the growing feeling
OF aversion which was strengthened by the intro
duction of invalid Sepoys at Saharunpore to n |
hospital common to persons of all creeds In 1856 |
the Government annexed Dude The Sepoys de- |
clared it was breach of good faith and began to
disseminate among their comrades suspicion of the
"utnoIues, put kept niitierS qulet waning favor
able opportunity to rise. This annexation of Dude.
in addition to their other imaginary grievances,
caused universal disafection throughout the army,
and from that time it determined on mutinying
AN order subsequently promulgated. compelling all
recruits TO swear to go wherever their services were
required added fuel to the smouderng embers and |
finally, the introduction of the rifle into the ranks of
the native army, and the suspicion engendered that
the cartridge was creased with the fat of cows and
pigs exasperated them to the point at which the
secret promoters of the rebellion had LONG aimed
Thc subsequent nrnrress of tho rorol4