The following year, 1857, was memorable for the outbreak of rebellion
in India. The real cause of the revolt was probably a long-smothered
feeling of resentment on the part of the Sepoy, or native, troops
against English rule,--a feeling that dates back to the extortion and
misgovernment of Warren Hastings (S555). The immediate cause of the
uprising was the introduction of an improved rifle using a greased
cartridge, which had to be bitten off before being rammed down.
To the Hindu the fat of cattle or swine is an abomination, and his
religion forbids his tasting it. An attempt on the part of the
British Government to enforce the use of the new cartridge brought on
a general mutiny among three hundred thousand Sepoys. During the
revolt the native troops perpetrated the most horrible atrocitise on
the English women and children who fell into their hands. When the
insurrection was finally quelled under Havelock and Campbell, the
English soldiers retaliated by binding numbers of prisoners to the
mouths of cannon and blowing them to shreds. At the close of the
rebellion, the government of India was wholly transferred to the
Crown, and later the Queen received the title of "Empress of India"
(1876).