"عبر بلاد فارس على سرج ركوب جانبي" [‎٢‎٠‎٩] (٣٦٠/٢٤٤)

THRO UGH THE DESERT TO BAMPUR AND PAHRA 209
of Baluchistan, supplanted, however, by Pahra, or Faraj, a
few miles beyond it, where the Assad-i-Dowleh, Governor
of the province, held his court.
Near here we passed a dervish carrying a furled white
flag with a red fringe at the top of its staff. He was a
tall, good-looking fellow, exceedingly dirty, and was
tramping the country to solicit alms in the name of Abbas,
Hussein's brother, the standard-bearer of the little army
of the Faithful, massacred by the Arabs under such
moving circumstances. Other fakirs carry a water-skin
instead of a flag, recalling to the minds of Mohammedans
an episode of the Tazieh, or Passion Play, in which Abbas
dashes for the well which is surrounded by hosts of enemies,
and dies in the heroic attempt to get water for the miser
able company of men, women, and children, who had
been suffering all the agonies of thirst for three days
under the scorching rays of the Arabian sun.
Before we reached Bampur I made my first acquaintance
with the characteristic camelry of Baluchistan. About
three miles from our camp we observed a procession
coming towards us between the tamarisk-trees. Wild-
looking soldiers armed with jezails, or native rifles, were
mounted on the usual rat-like steeds, but my glance
quickly flew beyond them to a long line of men mounted
on camels and 'salaaming' vigorously. Two men sat on
each animal, one behind the other, and were equipped
with round brass-bossed shields, huge curved scimitars,
and the usual brass-bound, inefficient rifle of the country.
They seemed a warlike crew, and were clad in black
woollen tunics, and enormously wide white cotton trousers,
while long, greasy locks fell from beneath their turbans.
A body of men carrying wands and wearing a pretence
O