New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-29
THE FAMOUS MUTINY.
A YEAR OF TERROR IN INDIA

PIP CSC The Macmillan Company
DAILY LIFE DURING THE INDIAN MCTlNY.
Personal Experiences Of 1871. Ky j. W. oh T !,
pany
One Of tie most tragic occurrences or this
century was the Indian Mutiny of 1857. and its
history. however often recounted, never fails
TO rouse fresh interest. Veterans who fought
through the desperate struggle. women who
endured the misccies Of the siege Of Lucknow,
continue TO send forth their "reminiscences or
that terrible time; and controversies in regard
10 the part borne by more or less distinguished
soldiers stl rage violently at intervals THESE
controversies do not particularly appeal 10
American readers: but every drop OF kindred
blood in our veins thrills over the Mutiny 8
splendid record Of daring deeds and selfsacri-
lcing devotion.
Mr. Holiness "History"-which has now
reached its nth edition in thoroughly re-
vised and slightly enlarged FORMS known as
q careful and for the most part unpreJuolced
work It's opening chapters are particularly
valuable in their clear and compact account OF
the beginning and growth of British rule IN
India and Of the causes contributing 10 the
Mutiny Much Of the meddling with native Gus
toms and laws thoroughly well-meanihg
originating in a desire TO promote the Welfare
Of the ultimately conquered races IL was an
fcult TO understand the native systems OF land
tenure and collection Of revenue. and in at
tempting to arrange matters under their own
ideas Of law and right the British administra-
tors often worked ignorantly the most cruel
Injustice. helped thereto in some cases by ma
tive scoundrels in whom they happened TO have
faith 1t is not 10 be wondered at that the
objects Of this injustice left TO their descendants
q resentment which was ready 10 fame when
the match was applied. The annexation by
the Government Of principaties to which there
was no natural heir. and which had given no
provocation. was the root Of much uneasiness
and anger, although in many cases ii benefited
millions Of people who had suffered under OUT
rageous misgovernment. The introduction OF
education the suppression of barbarous usages-
these and other innovations offended the Hindoo
and Mahometan priesthood; and the native SOL
diers had to complain with reason OF unjust
treatment and OF measures which seemed 70
threaten what to them was an irreparable in
Jury the destruction OF their caste. If the con-
oueror was often obtuse. obstinate and blind
It is not strange that the conquered should
have had something OF these qualities joined TO
his ignorance. Here according TO Mr.. Holmes.
was the first apparent uDheaval on the surface
Of all this seething distrust and rage: "One day
IN January. 1857. Lascar. attached TO the
magazine at Dum-Dum. near Calcutta, asked
a Sepoy Of the garrison to give him drink OF
water from his lotah "a brass drinkng-ves-
seD. Nettled by the naughty reply that the
vessel would be contaminated by the lips Of a
low-cast man. the Lascar retorted that the
Sepoy would soon be deprived of his caste al
together; for the Government busy manu-
featuring cartridges CREASED with the fat Of
bn
bite the forbidden substance before loading 1t Is
hard to convey 10 the mind Of an English reader
an adequate idea Of the force OF the shock be-
meath which the Imagination OF tia Brahmin
must have reeled when he heard these words.
Ii was all true then. he must have felt The
Government was really bent upon running him.
1t had devised an expediept, which, under
the specious pretext Of putting better weapon
into his hands. to destroy his caste his
honor, his socia, position. everything that made
life worth having. and 10 pave the way for his
perversion 10 Christianity. 1t must he remem-
bered that not faith. not Righteousness. but
ritual was the essence Of his religion. For him
TO be told that he to touch with his lips the
fat Of the appalling it would
have been to a medieval Catholic TO listen to
the sentence Of communication"
This was the match that fired rebellion. Mr.
Holmes says II all a delUslon but his ex-
PLANTATION is brief and unsatisfactory. He
merely says that the grease used for the car
tridges OF the Enfield rife contained tai
low Of doubtful origin but no cartridges
creased with the fat Of cows or swine were
destined 10 be issued TO the Sepoys." He adds
in footnote that it was not proved" that the
cartridge grease contained beef fat; but then
It was not proved tina, It did not. and this will
IL. rf,,.. 80
Anglo Indian history. with q strong presumption
in favor Of the theory that the average manu-
facturer Of cartridges was not particular as TO
the source Of the grease used When they were
first sent out from England. four years before
the Mutiny, Colonel Tucker. Adtutant- General
Of the Bengal army warned the Government:
against issuing them TO the native troops until
II should have been distinctly ascertained that
the grease was inoffensive but his letter went
no further than the Military Board at Calcutta.
which pigeon holed and forgot It..
The taunt OF the Lascar flew all over India
1.-The agitators who preaching sedition in
secret" says Mr.. Holmes. y allied the story with
delight. and as they retaied 1t 70 their disciples.
. clothed II with new terrors. The Brahmins Of
the Dharma Sabha. religious institution in
Calcutta. turned it TO account for the excitement
OF the caste prejudces OF the HindOO population.
The agents OF the King Of Oudh used It to IN
crease the odium Of those who had deprived
him of his throne. II by such means that
the crowning professional grievance Of the Sc
poys was twisted into grievance affecting their
coreligionists Of every condiSon." The mutiny
among these Sepoys broke out in one garrison
after another and. once started. the fear Of
punishment which these well-tra.Eed soldiers
knew was inevitable added fuel to the flame.
The political ambition and fanatcism Of the
Mahometans were reused; and the native
princes who. for reasons good or bad. had be-
come dsaffected thought they saw chance 10
regain their ancient irresponsible power. 1t took
year for the Government 10 entirely crush
the rebellion; and IT was not until the end Of