given by Lord Dalhousie had been neglected; and owing to the paucity of European troops the principal arsenals and military posts of India, notably that of Delhi, were garrisoned by disaffected Sepoys[1].
Under such conditions only a touch was needed to change insubordination into revolt. It was heedlessly applied. The adoption of the Enfield Rifle for use in the Native Army seemed an innocent measure; but a cry of 'greased cartridges' was raised, and the long-suppressed agitation burst into active life. Greased cartridges were no novelty. They had been sent out to India some years before the Mutiny, they had been subsequently manufactured by native hands in local arsenals, and had been issued without objection to certain Sepoy troops. But this time it was reported, and not without foundation, that the grease was made of hog's lard or cow's fat (a contamination to Hindus and Muhammadans alike), and the clamour spread far and wide. Everywhere it was proclaimed that the Native Army was thus to be forced into the Christian faith. The agitators hailed the grievance with delight. The Government made weak explanations. The mischief was done.
- ↑ The number of European troops in the Bengal Presidency was at this time unusually small. Two cavalry regiments had been withdrawn for service in the Crimea and not replaced; and four infantry regiments were absent with the Persian expeditionary force. The bulk of the remainder were quartered in the Punjab. Oudh was guarded by only one weak British regiment; while Delhi with its vast magazine was, as above said, entrusted entirely to Bengal Sepoys.
