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Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer
Interesting. I've been googling, and every source I've found says that the rounds were greased with both beef and pig tallow, and that the troops had to bite something off them, which obviously would be a problem for a hindu or muslim.
http://www.bartleby.com/65/in/IndianMu.html |
Pardon my intrusion. I don't have much to add with regards to the primary question at hand, but I was schooled in India from 2nd through 10th grade, so I can add a bit to discussion of the Sepoy Mutiny (1857 uprsing/rebellion). It was passed as 'fact' in India that the cases were coated with grease made from pigs or cows. Different sources say either it was rumor, or only a few were made with animal fat before the mistake was corrected.
The gun used was an Enfield rifle-musket where troops had to tear the cartridge case open to pour powder. Paper cases were coated with grease to water-proof them. I looked around and found that the same
P53 Enfield was also used by armies in our Civil War.