'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎247] (312/905)

CHAP. XI.]
MANNERS AND CHARACTER.
247
exertions, but likewise of continuing them under the greatest
privations. The courage of the Persian is not of the higher
order, but it is far from being defective when brought to the
test. The profession of arms, as in ancient times, 1 still
occupies the first place in the estimation of a Persian ; and,
if any particular trait might be selected to designate a
^character which cannot be trusted, and yet ought not to be
despised, it is his application to the exercises of the field, and
plundering forays against neighbouring tribes.
The Persian, like the modern Kurd and Turkoman, is Skill in horse-
almost always mounted; and, having been trained from his man8 ,p '
infancy, he is one of the most expert horsemen in the world.
He is, in fact, quite unrivalled in his skilful management
of the animal when ascending the steep sides of rocky moun
tains, which by most persons would be considered altogether
inaccessible for a horseman. The Bakhtiyari and other
tribes, maintaining a kind of half independence in the moun
tains, are also very expert riders; but every Persian, man and
boy, is a finished horseman, and particularly skilful in loading
and firing from the back of the animal. 2 Like his Parthian
ancestors, he can turn round when pursued, and fire his long
gun directly to the rear. He then gallops off at full speed,
hanging down from his saddle on the off side in such a way
that the greater part of his body is covered by the horse.
It is not an uncommon thing to see a Persian, whilst going
at a brisk pace, stoop down, take a sheep, or even a much
smaller object from the ground, and carry it off with un-
relaxed speed. 3
The habits of the Persians are decidedly predatory ; their Propensity to
robberies are of daily occurrence, and are committed without pl
respect to persons; for, in addition to the more ordinary
instances which I witnessed during my journey in 1831, the
1 Herodotus, lib. II., cap. clxvii.
2 The sling is just of sufficient length to allow of its supporting the piece
over the left wrist, whilst the hand grasps the muzzle, so as to facilitate the
loading.
3 On one occasion, a fowling-piece, belonging to Lieutenant Lynch's party,
was thus taken up from the ground, but the timely use of a rifle recovered it.