Skip to item: of 466
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

'Military Report on South-West Persia, Including the Provinces of Khuzistan (Arabistan), Luristan, and Part of Fars' [‎83] (118/466)

The record is made up of 1 volume (390 pages). It was created in 1885. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: Printed Collections.

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

83
This Is also the ration given by the chdrwaddrs to their mules on the line
of march.
Although the Iliyats furnish to Persia the greater part or her cavalry,
an arm on which she almost wholly relied in past times,
Ibyat Infantry. infantry has often been called into the field; the
Bakhtian infantry was renowned as the best in the kingdom [see pages 95, 98)^.
Numbers, power, occu- The Iliyats, scattered over Persia, have been esti-
pations, &c. mated to number 2,700,000 [see page 89).
They are brought up in ignorance of everything except tending then-
flocks, weaving, and martial exercises.
They are taught to despise peaceful occupations. The Shah can call upon
them to furnish for service one horseman and two foot soldiers for every ten
families, or about 130,000 men if a universal levee were made.
The advantage of military service consists in the protection which it affords
to the soldier's family; of the pay, they see little, as it passes through the
hands of the Khan, the Sultan, the Mirza, &c., of the regiment to which the
soldier belongs, and each appropriates a share.
They are inured to danger and fatigue, and tenacious of the honour of
their tribes; hitherto they have been the prop and glory of Persia [see
page 149). They were ubiquitous, and, hovering round about an enemy, never
allowed him to rest.
Jealousy of their power now causes them to be less drawn upon than
formerly for recruits; many of their number are kept at Tehran as hostages
for their loyal behaviour.
At best such troops are but lawless arid savage marauders and dangerous
to a weak government.
The cavalry are more highly esteemed than the infantry, simply because
every man thinks it degrading to walk and dignified to ride ; every Persian
is a good horseman, being accustomed to bestride some animal, donkey, mule
or horse from early childhood.
Until good legislation shall turn them into peaceable and industrious
communities, the fertile regions over which they wander must be vast pasturages
adapted solely to armed shepherds and lawless freebooters " (see Vol, VII of
Journal of the Royal Geographical Society),
It has at times been the policy of the Persian government to split up
Persian policy towards unruly and dangerous tribes and to transport them to
the Iliyats. distant parts of the empire; thus the inhabitants of
Dez-i-kurd, Deh-i-kurd, &c. (see pages 295 and 96), are of Kurdish origin,
Mr. Schindler considers that the proportion of souls per family among the
nomads is smaller than that of residents in towns and villages. Of the 'Mus
sulman population, 50*5 per cent, are females and 49*5 per cent males.
The Lurs of Lur-i-Kuchak are under the jurisdiction of the Governor resid
ent at Khoramabad.
The Lurs of Lur-i-Buzurg are under that of the Governor of Arabistan,
resident at Burujird and of that of Isfahan.
The Kahgehlu and Mamasseni are under the government of Behbahan
(Shiraz).
The Kashkai are under that of Fars (Shiraz). All are under the Zil-ul-
Saltan, residing at Isfahan. Of themselves they have no power to combine j
although the chiefs of the Lur families are closely connected together by marriage
where all are equally faithless, blood relations cannot be trusted. Were
combination possible, a weak despotism, such as the Government of Persia
is, would be unable to demand more than a fair amount of
oya y * revenue. Under the guidance of a powerful, trusted, and

About this item

Content

Military Report on South-West Persia, Including the Provinces of Khuzistan (Arabistan), Luristan, and Part of Fars by Major and Bt. Lieut-Col. Mark S. Bell, V.C., R.E.

Publication Details: Simla: Government Central Branch Press, 1885. Prepared in the Intelligence Branch of the Quarter Master General's Department in India.

Physical Description: 3 maps in end pockets. 41 plates.

Extent and format
1 volume (390 pages)
Arrangement

This volume contains a table of contents giving chapter headings and page references.

Physical characteristics

Dimensions: 245mm x 150mm

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

'Military Report on South-West Persia, Including the Provinces of Khuzistan (Arabistan), Luristan, and Part of Fars' [‎83] (118/466), British Library: Printed Collections, V 8685, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023694939.0x000077> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023694939.0x000077">'Military Report on South-West Persia, Including the Provinces of Khuzistan (Arabistan), Luristan, and Part of Fars' [&lrm;83] (118/466)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023694939.0x000077">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100023517327.0x000001/V 8685_0124.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100023517327.0x000001/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image