The times., 1898-08-07
IHDIA's YEAR OF TERROR
A Brief History of the Famous
Indian Mutiny.
CAUSE OF THE REBELLION
The Sepoys Told That the Cartridges
They Must Bite Were Creased
With the Fat Of Cow and Swine.
Women and Children RuthIessIy
Murdered and MutiIated.

In its review of the latest edition of
Mr.. Holmes History of the Indian Mu-
tiny and Mr.. Sherer's volume on the
same subject. the New York Tribune
complies these facts:
One Of the most tragic occurrences of
this century was the Indian Mutiny of
1857 and its history, however often re-
counted, never fails to rouse fresh inter-
est Veterans who fought through the
desperate struggle, women who endured
the miseries of the siege of Lucknow
continue TO send forth their reminis-
cences Of that terrible time; and contro-
versies in regard TO the part borne by
more or less distinguished soldiers still
rage violently at intervals. These con-
troversies do not particularly appeal 10
American readers; but every drop of
kindred blood in our veins thrills over
the Mutinys splendid record OF daring
deeds and self-sacrihcing devotion.
''One day in January, 1851, a Lascar, at
tached 10 the magazine at Dum-Dum
near Calcutta, asked a Sepoy OF the gar
rison TO give him drink of water from
his lotah IA brass drinking vesseD. Net
tied by the naughty reply that the YES
SCI would be contaminated by the lips OF
a lOw-caste man, the Lascar reIorted
that the Sepoy would soon be deprived
Of his caste altogether; for the govern
ment was busy manufacturing cartridges
CREASED with the fat of cows or swine.
ard the Sepoys would have to bite the
forbidden substance before loading.
1t is hard to convey TO the mind of an
English reader an adequate idea of the
force Of the shock beneath which the i'm
agination of that Brahman must have
reeled when he heard these words. 1t
was all true, then. he must have felt
The government was really bent upon
running him. Ii had devised an expedient
which, under the specious preteXt of put
ting a better weapon into his hands, was
to destroy his caste, his honor, his social
position, everything that made life worth
having, and TO pave the way for his per
version TO Christianity. II must be re-
membered that not faith, not righteous
ness. but ritual was the essence of his re
ligion. For him To be told that he was
10 touch with his lips the fat of the COW
was as appalling as il would have been
to a medieval Catholic TO listen to the
sentence Of excommunication." This was
the match that fired rebellion. Mr..
Holmes says il was all a delusion but
his explanation is brief and unsatisfac-
tory.
The taunt Of the Lascar flew all over
India. THE agitators who We're preach
ing sedition in secret" says Mr.. Holmes
hailed the story with delight, and as
they retailed 1t TO their disciples. clothed
IL with new terrors. The Brahmans of
the Dharma Sabha. a religious institu-
ton in Calcutta, turned it TO account for
the excitement of the caste prejudices of
the Hindoo population. The agents of
the King Of Oudh used IL to increase the
odium of those who had deprived him of
his throne 1t was by such means that
the crowning professional grievance of
the Sepoys was twisted into a grievance
Affecting their co-religionists of every
condition" The mutiny among these Sc
poys broke out in one garrison after an
other and once started, the fear of pun
lshment. which these well-trained sol
oiers knew was inevitable, added fuel TO
the flame. The political ambition and
fanaucism of the Mohametans We're
reused; and the native princes who, for
reasons good or bad, had become dis
affected, thought they saw a chance to
regain their ancient irresponsible power
II took year for the government to
entirely crush the rebellion. and IT was
not until the end of 1859 that the stray
bands Of marauGers and robbers who had
seized the opportunity to ravage were
finally punished and quieted
The story OF the siege of Caunpore is