‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎272r] (550/722)

fare is exceptional. In the matter of dress and equipment, great reform is
needed; and as to drill, having 1 been taught more or less under English,
French, Russian, Turkish, and Italian rules, the men require a single and
simple book of instruction. Instruction of officers must be specially pro
vided for. There is some sort of military college in Persia for cadets ; but
this is wholly insufficient. Appointments to and promotions in the com
missioned ranks will have to be regulated otherwise than at present, when
all goes by favour or barter ; and the relative positions of officer and soldier
will have to be defined in the sense that both are servants of the state, and
that no private arrangement can be recognised to the prejudice of that
connection.
Nucleus of horse should be drilled and disciplined. To all intents and
purposes there is no organised cavalry.
As to infantry, attention must be given to a scheme of permanent orga
nisation. Divisions and brigades now appear to exist for the (sole) purpose
of maintaining officers of high rank in sinecures; and many colonels and
majors would be puzzled to account for the regiments they are supposed
to command. The actual number of each grade borne on the register is a
problem few could solve. The number of private soldiers is, of itself, not
always, perhaps not often, ascertained. The great question of arms, both
for infantry and artillery, has to be thoroughly examined and appreciated.
Lastly, the reserve alluded to in quoting the Statesman’s Year Book is
perhaps rather nominal than real; and there is no corps of engineers, though
there are stray officers called ffinuhandis/ who seem to belong to one.
Sir Henry Rawlinson, in addressing the Geographical Society after the con
clusion of this lecture of General GoldsmkFs, said inter
remarS 611 ^ BaWlmS ° n S his impression was, that there were no people
in the world who afforded better rough material for
military purposes than the Persians. The physique of the men is admir
able, and their powers of endurance great. Their sobriety, general intelli
gence, and personal courage, are beyond all praise. Bad management has
prevented the army becoming worth much; but the Persian army might be
made in a very short time by good instruction, &c., superior to anything that
Turkey could produce. The tribes on the western frontier are the very beau-
ideal of military material, the men being athletic, strong, hardy, and active.
As far as can be ascertained, the Persian army may be divided into
the following classes :—
(1) Nizam, or regulars.—Among these may be classed the artillery the
^ . regular infantry, or sarbaz; a small body (500 men) of
asses ° e ‘ mny ' so-called regular cavalry; and the Shah’s personal body
guard of irregular cavalry, who receive regular pay and allowances : these
latter are called ghulam-i-rikabi (ghulaman?), which may be interpreted,
“ household troops.”
(2) Tufangchis,—matchlockmen, local militia, and army peasantry, who
are called out under their local chiefs or governors, in cases of emergency.
Khushuni sawari,* volunteer cavalry,—the irregular horse of the nomad
tribes, sometimes called ghulam-i-sawari.
The nizam cavalry.—There are 500 men, equipped and organised in imi
tation of Hungarian hussars. They are an absurd, useless body, who have
lost their valuable native characteristics, without gaining European
discipline.
* This may be ‘ khushani . 5