‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎268v] (543/722)

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considerable success. English influence becoming supreme, and the French
mission having quitted Persia, it was determined to accede to the wishes
of the Persian government and continue ‘the same military organisation.
Sir John Malcolm was accompanied in 1808 by two officers of the Indian
army, Major Christie and Lieutenant Lindsay, to whom was confided this
duty. They did it well. Major Christie was a man of considerable military
endowments. He undertook the charge of the infantry, and was killed at
his post at the battle of Aslanduz in 1812. His able successor was Major
Hart, of the Royal Army. Under the auspices and indefatigable cooper
ation of Abbas Mirza, heir-apparent to the throne of Persia, by whom abso
lute authority was confided to him, he brought the infantry of Azerbaijan to
a wonderful state of perfection. The artillery was placed under Lieutenant
Lindsay, afterwards Major-General Sir A. Lindsay. This officer acquired
extraordinary influence in the army, and in particular among the artillery.
He brought this branch of the forces in Azarbaijan to such a pitch of real
working perfection, and introduced so complete a system of esprit de corps,
that to this day his name is venerated; and traces of his instruction still
survive in the artillery of that province which even now preserves some
degree of efficiency.
“ After the last Russian war an attempt was made to reform the Persian
army and revive its discipline. A detachment of officers and sergeants was
sent for this purpose from the Indian army, besides an officer of the Rifle
Brigade, with some sergeants, from home. The attempt did not succeed.
After aiding in placing Muhammad Shah on the throne, distrust towards
these officers took the place of former confidence. Then came the jealousies
between England and Persia relative to Afghanistan; next, the rupture of
relations and the removal of the detachment from Persia, whither it has
never returned. The successors to these English officers were a body of
French military men, whose qiforts were a complete failure ; though it cannot
he affirmed that the fault is attributed to them. The instruction of the
Persian army then fell into the hands of a party of Italian officers, refugees
from Naples and Venice, and of a few Hungarian and German officers,
lent by Austria to the Shah. These gentlemen certainly rendered service
within their sphere and to the extent of their influence, both of which were
restrained to narrow bounds.
“ The Persian soldier is active, energetic, and robust, with immense power
of enduring fatigue, privation, and exposure. He is full of intelligence, and
seems to have a natural aptitude for a military life. Half-clothed, half-fed,
and not even half-paid, he will make marches of 24 miles day after
day, and, when need he, he will extend them to 40 miles. He bears cold
and heat with equal fortitude; but in the latter case, without abundance of
water, he is soon overcome. Unlike a sombre, apathetic Osmanli, who, brave
as he is, hates the regular military service, the Persian soldier is full of life
and cheerfulness. Somewhat addicted to turbulence, he, nevertheless, always
displayed the most complete submission to his English commanders, for
whom he has ever had a special veneration. A most determined marauder,
he sometimes enlists in the hope of plunder. This occurs particularly in
Azarbaijan. It is curious to see him returning from a campaign himself and
his faithful ass, loaded with all sorts of household furniture, which they
have brought perhaps from a distance of a thousand miles.
“ The unfortunate soldiers are enlisted for life, and generally by compul
sion. They are drawn almost entirely from the wandering Iliats of Turk and