"دليل بلاد فارس، المجلد I ويشمل محافظات أستراباد، شاهرود-بوستان، خراسان، وسيستان" [ظ‎‎٢‎٧‎١] (٧٢٢/٥٤٩)

thp chief of the tribe or district from which the men are drawn being 1
selected to command them. Christians, Jews, and Grahars are exempt from
military service. Goldsmid says the common sarhaz or regular infantry,
soldier, is often accompanied by a donkey, which materially assists him on the
march. Still the marching and endurance of the sarbaz are wonderful. With
good officers and good training, he might be made very efficient. His want
of discipline is the fault of his superiors. The moral value of the soldier
deteriorates as the social grade improves. The state of things much the
same in Turkey; probably oriental rather than material.
The post of " wakil, J or non-commissioned officer, becomes thus the first
step to demoralisation. Then comes ‘naibs/ or lieu-
Grades in army. tenant, corresponding to the Turkish ‘mulazircC; the
f sultan/ or captain, Turkish ‘ yuzbashP; ‘yawar/ or major, Turkish
‘ binbashi ’; then £ sarbang, J or lieutenant-colonel, Turkish £ kaim-mukam
lastly, ‘ sartfp, ’ or colonel, Turkish ‘ mfr-alaf/ Such are, roughly, the respec
tive grades which represent our commissioned ranks. Roughly, because there
are distinctive subdivisions to some of these—as, for example, first and second
wakil, first and second naib, first and second yawar, and first, second and third
sartfp (the two higher corresponding with general of division and of brigade
respectively). General Goldsmid knew a Persian officer, whom we should call
a field officer in a scientific corps, accept as gratuity for civilities and small
services rendered a sum, which in civilised Europe would be offered to
menials only. But he was not individually to blame : he was obeying the
dictates of precedent, and probably the demands of an empty purse and a
hungry family. The most businesslike cavalry General Goldsmid saw
in the Shah’s dominions were the stray horsemen he met in the
Karman province. Their dress, with the karbnna of Herodotus, and carbine
slung over the back, was brown from top to toe, and seemed simple and
soldier-like. “ It was pleasant to see bow the skill and boldness of the
rider gave, as it were, new evidence to the exactitude of the Greek
historian, who, 2,300 years ago, affirmed that riding was one of the three
accomplishments taught to the Persians. [Next remarks of General Gold
smid refer to General MacGregor’s Khurasan, and to the horsemen there
encountered by him, especially Vol. 1, page 298.]
General Goldsmid was not favourably impressed by the soldiers he saw at
Tihran off parade. Two Englishmen were, and probably are, connected with
the arsenal at Tihran. The chief direction of the arsenal however, and
indeed the direction of the whole Persian artillery, was in the hands of an
Armenian. The two principal drill instructors were Italians,—a Florentine
and a Neapolitan. Roads and bridges, under an Austrian officer, holding the
rank of general.* There were also two or three other Europeans holding
< 7 «a.vii-military posts.]
Conciliation and concession used to prevent or
Discipline. check mutiny. In matters of duty, eye service and no
more is required.
Pay of soldiers.—As follows :
21. I 65 . per annum for an infantry soldier ■) • „ »
4J. 165. „ „ artillery „ j of pay.
Daily ration of bread to each is less than 3|lbs. As bread and fruit are
said to be the soldier’s ordinary food, we may conclude that more substantial
* General von Schindler.