<P> Another suggestion they put forward was to introduce a new drill, in which the cartridge was not bitten with the teeth but torn open with the hand . The sepoys rejected this, pointing out that they might very well forget and bite the cartridge, not surprising given the extensive drilling that allowed 19th century British and Indian troops to fire three to four rounds per minute . British and Indian military drills of the time required soldiers to bite off the end of the Beeswax paper cartridge, pour the gunpowder contained within down the barrel, stuff the remaining paper cartridge into the barrel, ram the paper cartridge (which included the ball wrapped and tied in place) down the barrel, remove the ram - rod, return the ram - rod, bring the rifle to the ready, set the sights, add a percussion cap, present the rifle, and fire . The musketry books also recommended that, "Whenever the grease around the bullet appears to be melted away, or otherwise removed from the cartridge, the sides of the bullet should be wetted in the mouth before putting it into the barrel; the saliva will serve the purpose of grease for the time being" This meant that biting a musket cartridge was second nature to the Sepoys, some of whom had decades of service in the Company's army, and who had been doing musket drill for every day of their service . The first sepoy who rebelled by aiming his loaded weapon at a British officer was Mangal Pandey who was later executed . </P> <P> There was rumour about an old prophecy that the Company's rule would end after a hundred years . Their rule in India had begun with the Battle of Plassey in 1757 . </P> <P> Before the rebellion, there were reports that "holy men" were mysteriously circulating chapatis and lotus flowers among the sepoys . Leader of the British Conservative Party and future prime minister Benjamin Disraeli argued these objects were signs to rebel and evidence of a conspiracy, and the press echoed this belief . </P> <P> After the rebellion, there was rumour in Britain that Russia was responsible . </P>

What was the immediate cause of the revolt