ATTACK ON THE COLUMN OF PILGRIMS. 
221 
notorious tracts between Shiraz and western Zagros, came here 
into convenient exercise ; while I found my brave and quick- 
sighted Kazaroonite one amongst the most efficient of my train. 
This second marshalling was no sooner arranged, than the dis¬ 
charge of half a dozen matchlocks sufficiently reported it to all 
within hearing. To check this mode of giving scent to the 
bands ready to way-lay us, I had found a vain task with the 
master of the host, therefore was not disappointed at seeing my 
arguments fail with his men. They had continued this sort of 
popping, with gun and pistol, during the whole of the darkling 
part of our march; as if, carrying their fatalism to the utmost 
limit, they expected every “ ball would find its billet,” whether 
its object were in battle array, or hors de combat. In vain 1 
remonstrated with their leader, that this incessant firing would 
not only apprise the expected enemy of our approach, but was 
a useless expenditure of the ammunition we might soon want 
for more serious service. He answered, with great self-satisfac¬ 
tion, that “ it was always a good thing to let the thieves know 
we had fire-arms, and were not afraid to shew how we could 
use them.” 
While this experienced personage, who indeed knew so well 
how far the demands on his powder and shot would go, ambled 
along on the heights ; and we below, were slowly proceeding at 
a foot-pace along the road, (such being the usual rate, when 
encumbered with panniered mules and baggage;) a sudden 
uproar burst forth all at once, apparently at some distance, and 
towards the rear of our snake-like column. Loud screams from 
the women, cries of children, mixed with the halloos and bel¬ 
lowing voices of the men, proclaimed that something serious 
was going on at that end of us. But, as the after-part of our 
