'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎593] (660/714)

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THE ARMY
693
last -named precept has long ago been expunged from the ethical
code of their descendants, the Persians still observe the first
prescription, while at £ drawing the long bow' they are unequalled
in the world. These irregular cavalry are the sole modern sur
vivors of the mounted hosts that scattered the legions of Rome, that
followed the banner of Tamerlane, and that crossed the Indus with
Nadir Shah. Numerically weak, ill-armed, and undisciplined as
they now are, they might vex, but could not withstand, a European
army. It is conceivable, however, that if one half the trouble and
one quarter the money were expended upon them that have been
squandered upon the nizam, or Persian infantry, they might still
be consolidated into one of the most formidable bodies of light
cavalry in the East. The latest list of territorial distribution which
I have been able to procure divides the levies of the various
squadrons— varying in strength from fifty to seven hundred men—
as follows : twenty-three Azerbaijan squadrons, twenty-four Khora-
san, one Astrabad (Yomut Turkomans), one Shahrud, one Kerman,
five Gilan and Mazanderan, four Irak (including the Bakhtiari), foui
Burujird, four Khamseh, six Teheran, three Arabistan (Feili and
Bakhtiari Lurs), four Kazvin, five Kermanshah, one Gulpaigan,
one Kamareh, two Luristan, one Shiraz, one Hamadan.
What I describe as semi -regular cavalry consists of certain
regiments, drilled, equipped, and armed after European patterns.
Semi Of these there are now three regiments, one at Isfahan
regular and two at Teheran. The first-named is called the
LlSan Foj-i-Fath-i-Nasiri, and is under the supervision of the
regiment zil-es-Sultan. In pursuance of the Prince's well-known
partiality for the German military system, the soldiers of this
regiment are accoutred so as to imitate the Prussian Uhlans.
They serve only six months in the year, and receive only six months
pay, which, in the case of the privates, amounts (rations included)
to 233 hrans {61. 13s.) apiece. Both officers and men provide
their own horses ; but they are equipped, lodged, and armed at the
expense of the State, privates and non -commissioned officers
receiving one uniform per annum, or, if their services are requiied
for more than six months in the year, two uniforms and rations for
the extra period. The numbers, military ranks, pay, and rations
of this regiment are set forth in the following table .- —
VOL. I.
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