‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎274r] (554/722)

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There is no trustworthy information regarding the armies of the other
provinces; we must, therefore, make a guess at the distribution, and sum
up the imperfect list as follows:—
Regiments,
Belonging to Azarbaijan ... ... 20 to 25
,, Tihran and Astarabad ... ... ... 15 to 20
„ Irak ... ... ... 10 to 15
Total ... 45 to 60
The remainder unaccounted for belong to Khurasan, Sistan, and the
south. Most of the army is locally employed; but the Azarbaijan and Irak
districts probably supply regiments for Tihran and the provinces, in addi
tion to their own local forces. The border forces will be found m >re fully
discussed under the head of “ Races.^
The theory of enlistment has been already stated. What occurs in prac
tice is, that the details are left in the hands of the colonels or local govern
ors. The draft always begins with the rich, who purchase exemptions,
and then proceeds down the list, until poverty forces its victims into the
ranks. Besides this irregular levy, there are many other ways in which
soldiers are entertained. Some tribes pay no revenue, and give a percent
age of their young men to the regular army ; while many chiefs maintain
contingents in lieu of paying taxes.
In spite of these irregular methods, the Persian soldier, on the average,
Physique of the i s perhaps superior in physique to any soldier in the
Persian soldier and his world. He is active, energetic, and robust, with
qualities. immense powers of enduring fatigue, privation, and
exposure. He is full of intelligence; and seems to have a material aptitude
for a military life. He soon becomes a good shot. Half-clothed, half-fed,
and not even half-paid, he will make marches of 24 miles day after day ;
and when need be, 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. Sir Henry Rawlinson calculated that during the cam
paign of Abbas Mirza, in marches extending from 2,000 to 5,000 miles,
the Persian infantry averaged 21-g miles a day—a circumstance unique in
history; and a regiment he knew of when dismissed finished their military
career by marching 50 miles a day to their homes. General MacGregor does
not consider the Persian soldier’s marching powers as good as those of the
soldier of Hindustan; and having heard Sir Henry Rawlinson explain the
manner in which he calculated the abovementioned marches by omitting the
periods of rest obtained by the long halts in the principal cities,^ the testi
mony appears to be somewhat qualified as to the Persian soldier s capacity
of performing' a continuous march. (Persian soldiers are said to be deter
mined marauders,) ...
General staff.—The Persian regular army owes its origin to the French (m
reign of Fateh All Shah), and dates from the mission of
Officers Of various Genera i Gardanne in 1808. Shortly after, Major Chris-
liave'at different times tie and Lieutenant Lindsay, of the East Indian Com-
contributed to the pany’s army, took charge of the new levies. Majoi liait,
training of the Per- ano ther EnMishman, brought the infantry to great
8ianarm y- perfection ; and Lieutenant Lindsay, the artillery.
After the last war between Russia and Persia, several officers and sergeants