Punch,  33 (1857), [v]–[vii].

Introduction

Anon

Genre:

Introduction—Reportage; Extract

Subjects:

Military Technology, Invention, Religion, Analytical Chemistry, Cultural Geography


    Introduces an extract which links the Indian Mutiny to the use, by British troops in Bengal, of greased cartridges in 'a new kind of invention, called the Enfield rifle—being an improvement on the well known French invention known as the Minié rifle'. The writer notes that one military officer informed the Indian government that this weapon caused an 'uneasy feeling [...] amongst the Sepoys', because the grease essential to the preparation of the rifle cartridges 'consisted of a mixture of the fat of cows and pigs', which was 'abhorrent both to Hindus and Mahomedans'. This controversy prompted an official chemical analysis by the government Chemical Examiner, Dr Macnamara, who declared the paper used in the rifle cartridges to be devoid of grease or any other oily matter. ([v])



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