after it was alleged that the new rifles being issued to them used animal fat to grease the casing. The same Persian word has reached English via another route in the form of Spahi. The sepoys also served Portugal in India. Sepoys from the Portuguese India, later, were sent to other territories of the Portuguese Empire, specially those from Africa. Later, the term "sipaio" (sepoy) was also applied by the Portuguese to African soldiers and African rural police officers. Its Basque version zipa… (More on Sepoys)