The primary interest of the British Empire and the East India Company before that, was economic and political and religious interest was secondary. Though the British favored missionary activities as long as that did not affect their economic or political interests, they were not allowed to cross certain limits as to cause law and order problems. It must not be forgotten that the immediate cause of the Indian mutiny was religious in nature, namely the use of fat, said to be taken from cows and pigs, in cartridges. Unlike in Africa, the existing religions in India were more organised and influential. The British were careful not to upset the delicate communal balance in ways detrimental to their interests. Hence the field was not as favorable in India as much as in Africa for missionary activities.