'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎204] (239/714)

PERSIA
instance, being at present under a cousin of the Rukn-ed-dowleh,
and Sebzewar under his eldest son. I shall subsequently have
something to say about both when I come to their capitals
Ni8ha p m on journey from Meshed to Teheran. Neither district
Sebzewar contr ^utes any infantry troops to the Persian army,
having seemingly been granted a special exemption after the visit
of the Shah in 1868,
Finally we come back to the large and wealthy district of
Shahrud -Bostam, to which I have already alluded in a footnote
Shahrud wlien speaking of Astrabad, and which is administered
Bostam ^0 sole surviving son of Fath Ali Shah. Ihis is only
separated by the Elburz from Astrabad; and thus my task is over,
for I have now completed the circuit of Khorasan, and supplied
a sketch of each of the administrative subdivisions of this most
important province.
In quitting this branch of my subject, let me sum up the total
of the armed strength of Khorasan, of which I have already in
Total passing noticed the majority of the items. The calcula-
miiit^ry tion does not of course include the local levies, Shctm-
Khorasan kholchis (matchlock men, &c.), who might be raised in
time of war, but the effective troops who, within a few days" time,
could be called out and placed in the field.
Infantry (Serbaz or Regulars),
i. Territorial Regiments.
2 Regiments of Karai Turks levied at Turshiz and Turbat-i-
Haideri, 800 each
2 Regiments levied at Birjand, 800 each . . . •
(Of these 4 regiments only one wing of each is mobilised
at a time, or half of the whole, the other half being dis
banded.)
ii. Extra-territorial Regiments.
4 Regiments usually recruited in Azerbaijan, 3 of which are
always in garrison at Meshed, 800 each . . . •
Total .
1,600
1,600
3,200
6,400
Cavalry (chiefly mercenary).
Irregular (i.e. effective, but not mobilised).
Timuris and Turbat-i-Sheikh Jam .
Jamshidis ...••••
Hazaras ...•••••
Zaferanlu Kurds (under the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of Kuchan)
Shahdillu Kurds
Goklan Turkomans
under the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of Bujnurd
. 1 ,025
. 300
450
. 600
f 500
L 300