Blowing from a GunFollowing Mughal precedents, the British frequently employed a particularly horrific form of public execution for rebels by tying the victim, or sometimes several victims, to the mouth of a cannon and then firing it. This practice was used quite extensively during the Indian uprising of 1857–1858, as illustrated in this image. The British argued that it served as a deterrent to rebellion, was more humane than the earlier Mughal practice of “flogging to death,” and allowed high-caste rebels to avoid the disgrace of being polluted by contact with the untouchables who often conducted hangings. For the families of the victims, both Muslim and Hindu, it proved almost impossible to perform proper funeral and burial rites. The practice was used as late as 1871, but then was discontinued.Blowing mutinous Sepoys from the guns, from “The History of the Indian Mutiny,” published in 1858 (engraving), English School (19th century)/Private Collection/Ken Welsh/Bridgeman Images