PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 223 



This achievement, in spite of its singularity, would, it seems to me, 

 be very applicable in Persia, if water sufficient to produce the result 

 could be found everywhere. It is plain that this element produces 

 more effect upon clay than bullets, which bury themselves without 

 effecting the least caving in. Such fortifications, therefore, we see 

 are only suitable to a dry country.* 



THE USE OF ZEMBOUREKS ALMOST ABANDONED IN CONSEQUENCE OF 

 THE NEW MILITARY ORGANIZATION.— RESUSCITATION OF THE ZEM- 

 BOUREKS.— REORGANIZATION OF THE CORPS. EQUIPMENT, MANQEU- 

 VRES.— COMPARATIVE TABLE OF THE DROMEDARY'S GAITS. 



Aga-Mohammed-Khan^ the eunuch, who established the present 

 dynasty of Persia, when commencing a second expedition against 

 Georgia, which had made an alliance, offensive and defensive^ with 

 Catherine of Russia, made a review of all his troops in the plains of 

 Teheran. On which occasion, say the Persians, the zembouretchis es- 

 corted the person of the king.f This is sufficient evidence that it was 

 a select corps which had rendered well known services ; such only 

 having the privilege of serving about the person of his majesty, or_, 

 as the Persians emphatically express it, of attending upon the stirrup 

 of victory. The campaign against Georgia had scarcely begun when 

 the King of .Persia died, which caused a cespation of hostilities. From 

 that time the zemboureks no longer appeared in active service, but 

 held their post of honor in the train of the monarch, and have con- 

 tinued to hold it until our time. 



At the beginning of this century the military organization of 

 Persia was entirely changed by the advice of the Emperor Napoleon 

 to Feth-Ali-Shah. French officers had first the honor of disciplining 

 the Persian army. The Shah, adopting the political views of 

 Napoleon, directed his forces against Russia, whose troops occupied 

 the provinces washed by the Araxes and the Kur. At the commence- 

 ment of the campaign, in 1811, the advantages and losse; were recip- 

 rocal.! The Persians gained a signal victory over the Turks at 



* When a heavy shower unexpectedly talis — particularly when the snow melts — it is not 

 uncommon to see many portions of walls fallen in, mined by the water. I have myself 

 seen, more than once, similar effects produced. 



f We cannot pass over in silence the plan which this monarch wished to adopt to oppose 

 the invasion of Russia. These are the very words of the Aga-Mohammed-Khan : "The 

 Russian bullets shall never reach me; they shall be masters only of what is covered by the 

 fire of their artillery ; they shall not sleep; and go where they may, I will make a desert before 

 them." — (Malcolm's History of Persia.) This system of warfare, apart from its barbarity, is 

 certainly more suitable to the defence of Persia than to that of any other country, and un- 

 questionably presents the greatest chances of success. 



J Morier relates as follows a victory gained by the Persians at the battle of Sultaurbout: 

 " The prince royal Abbas Mirza assembled his army near Mogan towards the last of January. 

 It was 9,000 strong, according to the Persians, but 14,000 by the account of English officers 

 serving m it. It was composed of Touffengtchis, the ordinary infantry (militia.') of the 

 country ; of Serbaz, or disciplined troops ; of a corps of irregular cavalry ; and of a train of 

 horse artillery, consisting of twelve guns Before passing the Araxes, the Prince learnt that 

 the Russian troops, with their artillery, were posted at the village of Sultaurbout, a short dis- 

 tance from Chouche. He determined to attack them. The Russians, whom confidence had 

 made careless, were suddenly surprised by finding themselves exposed to a fire of grape-shot, 

 well directed, and which in a few minutes knocked over 300 men. They rallied within the 

 •walls of the village, where, however, after a short negotiation, they capitulated. One of the 

 articles of capitulation was, that their head- should not be cut off, a common practi'^e among, 

 the Turks and Persians. » * * * The Prince Abbas-Mirza behaved with magnanimity, 

 for when the Russian commander, who had been wounded, was brought to him, perceiving 

 that he wore no sword, he gave him his own, which was a very valuable one, and begged 

 him to wear it." 



