'A Journey from Bengal to England, through the Northern part of India, Kashmire, Afghanistan, and Persia, and into Russia, by the Caspian-Sea. By George Forster. In the Civil Service of the Honourable the East-India Company in Two Volumes. Vol. II.' [‎152] (165/314)

F OUSTER’S T R A V E L S.
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fians have been ever ill acquainted with the ufe of fire arms, and
that their grand fucceffes were obtained by the formidable onfet of
their cavalry. Little other proof inueed is required oi theii want
of fkill, than a review of Nadir’s long liege of Bagdad, which,
though a fortification of mean ten ability, baffled all his efforts.
The matchlock-piece is the common weapon of a Perfian foot fol-
dier, except in the province of Auderbeijan, and in fome parts of
Shirvan and Dhaghiftan, where the ufe of the fpring lock mufquet
has been adopted from the Turks; but the ridicule which has
been thrown on this praftife by the body of tne people, will pro
bably long prevent its general introduction. The feverity of the
winter feafon, has now obliged the Afghan army to retire into
quarters, and afforded a temporary relief to the inhabitants of
Mufchid, who began to feel a want of provifions.
The young chief of this city, in defiance of the reprefentations
of his clergy, has coined into current fpecie fuch of thofe orna
ments with which the oftentatious zeal of the Schiahs had for two
centuries been decorating the tomb of Mooza Beza, as had been
preferved from former depredations. Even Nadir, the avowed foe
of prieffhood, made his offering at the fhrine of Mufchid. But
his defcendant fearing that the whole fabric would fall into the
unhallowed hands of his enemies, has wifely facrificed a part, to,
prevent a total deffrucfion. Yet his efforts will probably be fruit-
lefs j for if the Afghans return to the fiege, they will derive a con-
fiderable aid from the low ffate of the Mufchid treafury, which I