'Report on the Persian Army' [‎65v] (130/170)

120
Training and
organisation.
Shah’s body
guard.
Arms.
I lie same may be said of the horse of Southern Persia in
general, but it would appear that the nearer Arabistan is
approached the better, though lighter, the animal.
The training and organisation of the irregular cavalry is
based upon the old Tartar system, and the tribal levies of this
day ditter, except in their method of armament, but little from
those of the time of Jenghis Khan or Timur. We still find the
1 artar divisions of tens, litties, and hundreds.
A few selected regiments employed in garrison at Tehran,
Ispahan, etc., have assumed a more regular Cossack organisa
tion ; their officers in respect to rank and pay are under condi
tions similar to those of officers of the infantry and artillery;
whilst the men are in receipt of special pay and allowances.
Ihey are, moreover, armed with the Government pattern
rifle. 1 heir instruction has been somewhat modified by
contact with the regular troops of the Cossack brigade, but
m their chief circumstances they assimilate to the irregular
cavalry.
These regiments are :—
1. The Saveli Cavalry, employed at Tehran.
The Hamadan Afshar Cavalry, employed at Tehran.
3. The Kasviu Cavalry, employed at Tehran. - '
4. The Mazanderan Cavalry, employed at Mazanderan.
5. The Kahmseh Cavalry, employed at Kahmseh and
Tehran. . .
6. Savareh-i-Ispahani, employed at Ispahan.
7. Golam-i-Meshedi, employed at Meshed.
8. Savareh-i-Shadilu-i-Kuchan vu Bujnurdi, employed at
Bujnurd. .. ,
It should be noted that the Cossack training as imparted by
the native officer of the Cossack brigade has not yet extended
to the irregular cavalry of Southern Persia. The tendency, .
however, is in. that direction, owing to the encouragement
given to fhe brigade by the Persian Government and by the
provincial governors. h
Only on very rare occasions are the irregular cavalry called
upon to serve outside their own provinces or districts; such
service would be extremely unpopular and is only resorted to
on emergency.
The Kishik-Khaneh, Nasiri, Khajar, and the Mansur have
then headquarters in leheran and form the SShah’s own per
sonal bodyguard. They are in receipt of special pay and
allowances. Many of them are persons of rank, but it seems
doubtful whether more than « r >00 out of a nominal strength of
2,5(!0 are really effective. The rest are boys or pensioners i
existing on paper only. ;,
1 he arms, with the exception of the Werndells issued to the
cavalry employed in garrison at Teheran, Ispahan, Meshed, j
etc., almost invariably belong to the tribesmen.
- "[h -Km th—ivestern Persia, Azerbaijan, and Kurdistan the
Peabody-Martmi and Berdans are chiefly affected. The Pea- .