'Lieut.-General Sir James Outram's Persian campaign in 1857; comprising general orders and despatches relating to the military operations in Persia, from the landing at Bushire to the treaty of peace; also, selections from his correspondence as commander-in-chief and plenipotentiary during the war in Persia.' [‎192] (211/454)

192
which precluded me from embodying the tribes in that
quarter, which was one of the principle objects for going
there—all these are a combination of obstacles for which
I was not prepared, and which render it very probable
I mav have to abandon the Shuster plan altogether.
In that case, after the seizure of Mohumra, my opera
tions will be probably confined to driving the enemy
from below the passes in our front. And it will depend
on the strength and condition in which they retreat up
the passes, whether or not I follow on to Shiraz, or con
tent myself with holding the low country, and placing
the Europeans on the elevated plateau above Borazjoon
for the hot months. But, under any circumstances, the
hot season must have commenced before the troops here
can be equipped to move against the enemy; for I can
hardly hope to have obtained a sufficiency of baggage
cattle before I have been at least a month at Mohumra,
and then it will take nearly another month to march the
cattle round by land (moving a force out to meet the
troops that escort them before they approach too near
the enemy's position) under escort of Jacob's Horse and
such levies as he may have organized in the interim;
for though debarred from engaging tribes nominally
subject to Persia, I do not see why I should scruple
about entertaining individual adventurers who please
to flock to our standard, whether from the Persian
or Turkish side of the Euphrates, and I know that
some hundreds have already been engaged by Captain
Kemball, who are now protecting the camels and mules
that active and able officer has already secured for us,
and that many of the Bashi Bazooks from the Crimea,
holding English discharge certificates, are eagerly
seeking to be engaged in our ranks at Bagdad and
Mohsul.
Mv letters of the 15th ultimo informed your Lordship
if