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Blowing from a gun is a method of execution in which the victim is typically tied to the mouth of a cannon and the cannon is fired. George Carter Stent describes the process as follows:〔''Havholm'' (2008), (p. 77 )〕 Blowing from a gun was a reported means of execution as long ago as the 16th century, by the Mughal Empire, and was used until the 20th century. The method was utilized by Portuguese colonialists in the 16th and 17th centuries, from as early as 1509 across their empire from Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka)〔''Calcutta Review'' (1851), (p. 395 )〕 to Mozambique〔''Alden'' (1996), (p. 55 )〕 to Brazil.〔''Southey'' (1822), (p.469 )〕 The Mughals used the method throughout the 17th century and into the 18th, particularly against rebels.〔17th century case, ''Afsos, Court'' (1871), (p. 64 ), 18th century case ''Hazārah, McChesney, Khorrami'' (2012), (p. 54 )〕 Arguably, the nation most well known to have implemented this type of execution was the British Empire, in its role as paramount power in India, and in particular as a punishment for native soldiers found guilty of mutiny〔''Long'' (1869), (p. 397–398 )〕 or desertion.〔February 1781 ''Parlby'' (1822), (p. 188 ), May 1783 ''Baillie'' (1788), (p. 490 ), July 1783 ''Forbes'' (1815), (p. 123 ), October 1783 ''Forbes'' (1815), (p. 133 ) November 1783 ''Baillie'' (1788), (p. 468 )〕 Using the methods previously practised by the Mughals, the British began implementing blowing from guns in the latter half of the 18th century,〔Long (1869), (p. 51 ) (page 224 )〕 with the most intense period of use being during 1857 sepoy mutiny, when both the British and the rebelling sepoys used it frequently.〔(''Allen's Indian Mail'' ) (1857), pp. 465, 466, 502, 549, 601, 731,771, 911〕 The practice is said to have been exceptionally used in Afghanistan in 1930, against 11 Panjshiri rebels.〔''Cullather, Meyerowitz'' (2003), (p. 50 )〕 == Rituals == A commonly reported method of blowing a man from a gun is to tie him in front of the muzzle of the gun and then have him shot. Loading the cannon with an actual cannonball is on occasion reported; but, more commonly, the use of blank cartridge or grapeshot is attested. The following description of the manner of tying up the convicted is from Afghanistan, 7 July 1839, ordered by Shuja Shah, during the campaign against Dost Mohammad Khan:〔''Atkinson'' (1842), (p. 189–190 )〕 Although immobilizing a victim in front of a gun before firing the cannon is by far the most reported method, a case from Istanbul in 1596 alleges that the victim was actually put into the gun and executed in that manner.〔''Boyar, Fleet'' (2010), (p. 112 )〕 Some reports exist that attest that on occasion, people were fastened to rockets and blown into the air. This is said to have occurred for a Brahmin under Hyder Ali's reign (1761–1782),〔''Campbell'' (1839), (p. 421 )〕 and also, in an 1800 treason case, in the Mahratta Empire.〔''Duff'' (1826, 3), (p. 190 ), and ''Lal, Prinsep'' (1831), (p. 127 )〕 Things did not always work out according to plan at such executions; at a mass execution at Firozpur in 1857, there was an order that blank cartridge should be used, but some loaded with grapeshot instead. Several of the spectators facing the cannons were hit by the grapeshot and some had to amputate limbs as a result. In addition, some of the soldiers had not been withdrawn properly and sustained damages by being hit by whizzing pieces of flesh and bone.〔Ball, (1859, 3), (p. 411 )〕 In another case, a soldier who was to be shot managed to fall down just as the shot went off, with the resulting scene taking place:〔''American Peace Society'' (1858) (p. 23 )〕 Others reported with shudders how birds of prey circled above the execution place and swooped down to catch pieces of human flesh in the air,〔"It is a curious fact, and well attested by many persons present, that a number of kites (a bird of prey very common in India) actually accompanied the melancholy party in their progress to the place of execution, as if they knew what was going on, and then kept hovering over the guns from which the culprits were to be blown away, flapping their wings, and shrieking, as if in anticipation of their bloody feast, till the fatal flash, which scattered the fragments of bodies in the air; when, pouncing on their prey, they positively caught in their talons many pieces of the quivering flesh before they could reach the ground! At sight of this the native troops employed on this duty, together with the crowd which had assembled to witness the execution, set up a yell of horror".. The description is from the execution of those found guilty in the Vellore Mutiny in 1806, ''Blakiston'' (1829), (p. 309 ).〕 while others were nauseated by the dogs loitering about the place of execution and rushing to the scene to devour some of the "delicacies" spread around as a result of the execution.〔In an 1845 Herat case: "It was a scene that I shall never forget—a horrid spectacle, and touched me to the very heart. The broken limbs of the unfortunate man were scattered in all directions, while his bowels, which had not been thrown to so great a distance, were in an instant devoured by the dogs that were loitering about the spot." ''Ferrier'' (1856), (p. 189 ).〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Blowing from a gun」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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