'The History of Persia, from the most early period to the present time: containing an account of the religion, government, usages and character of the inhabitants of that kingdom. By Colonel Sir John Malcolm, KCB, KLS Late minister plenipotentiary to the court of Persia from the supreme government of India. In two volumes.' [‎602] (663/786)

602
THE HISTORY OF PERSIA.
chap . xxv. On being informed that the laws restrained men from plundering,
he asked, with apparent astonishment, " What then can be the
" occupation of so numerous a population Those who had given
the description which led to these remarks, were at once amused and
surprised at so extraordinary a proof of that strong bias which the
human mind receives from its feelings and thoughts being all directed
in one course.
Their abhor- Though the highest of the military tribes of Persia are proud of
rence of the r ii •
name of being called plunderers, they hold in abhorrence the name or thieves.
The cause of this distinction is obvious. The difference between
force and fraud, implies that between strength and weakness. There
are, however, some of the lesser clans whose occupation is avowedly
theft; but even these pretend to honour. When the British mission
passed through Kurdistan, the camp was one day pitched in the
vicinity of the huts of some families of the tribe of Ghishkee. The
women were employed in baking, spinning, and weaving carpets;
while the men were, as usual, wandering idle, or in search of game.
The English gentlemen, who had been told that this tribe were
remarkable for being the greatest thieves in Persia, and that the
children were beat daily by their mothers to accustom them to pain,
that when they were caught stealing they might not be alarmed, by
blows, into a confession of their accomplices, asked an old man if
these accusations were true. "We are abused/' he said, " more
" than we deserve; for, after all, our theft is only a species of war.
" We never either rob or steal, except from those with whom our
should see and admire Calcutta, and sent a person to show him every part of that city.
When he returned, I asked him what he thought of the capital of British India?
" Ajub jaee buraee chapou ast!" was his reply. " It is a noble place to plunder!"