DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6553#0205
126
APPENDIX.
I saw twenty-four squadrons of Arabs, and Syrians inspected
at Tourah. They were armed with swords, and carbines, and the
flank squadrons of each regiment had lances, with red and white
flags. They were tolerably well mounted, and their horses,
although rough, were in fair condition. They were drawn up in
good allignment, but their files were open. Their officers were
badly mounted, and no sort of uniformity was observed in their
horse appointments. They performed several manoeuvres, chiefly
by pelotons, and often in regimental columns. They advanced in
line, and charged very slowly ; and finished by trotting past with
no great exactness, or regularity. The old Turkish saddle is
extremely heavy, and the large stirrups cannot be used in
squadron ; but the saddles in use among the common Arabs,
although of the same form, are much lighter, and with smaller
stirrups would be preferable to the Hussar saddles, which these
people have adopted. The Mameluke bit would also be better
than the one, which they have at present. Instead of blankets, the
saddles are placed upon loose pannels, so awkwardly stuffed, that
with a little use they would probably become perfectly unser-
viceable.
In an excursion to Palmyra, I had an opportunity of observing
a small detachment of irregular cavalry, sent as an escort by
Sheriff Pasha. The officer was scarcely in any respect superior
to the common men, who were mounted on their own horses,
without any uniformity of dress, or of appointments ; were armed
with long guns, swords, pistols, &c, and rode on Turkish saddles.
How they would have behaved, if an enemy had appeared, I
know not; but they were exceedingly active and alert, and
appeared to be well aware of their duty. They galloped
forward, and occupied the rising grounds on the front, and
flanks, till the party had passed by ; and pursued every horse-
man, or camel they saw in the distance; in marching at
night they kept as close together as possible ; but, when they
halted in the evening, they did not appear to have any idea of
precaution (possibly because no danger was apprehended), for
they took off their bridles, and turned their horses loose to graze
on the scanty herbage of the desert, without any vidette, or
sentry; and then lighted large fires, so that their numbers, and
position could be distinctly seen, whilst the advance of an enemy
was completely concealed. They were probably a fair sample of
this species of force, as they belonged to the guard of Sheriff
Pasha, the Governor-General of Syria, stationed at Damascus.
APPENDIX.
I saw twenty-four squadrons of Arabs, and Syrians inspected
at Tourah. They were armed with swords, and carbines, and the
flank squadrons of each regiment had lances, with red and white
flags. They were tolerably well mounted, and their horses,
although rough, were in fair condition. They were drawn up in
good allignment, but their files were open. Their officers were
badly mounted, and no sort of uniformity was observed in their
horse appointments. They performed several manoeuvres, chiefly
by pelotons, and often in regimental columns. They advanced in
line, and charged very slowly ; and finished by trotting past with
no great exactness, or regularity. The old Turkish saddle is
extremely heavy, and the large stirrups cannot be used in
squadron ; but the saddles in use among the common Arabs,
although of the same form, are much lighter, and with smaller
stirrups would be preferable to the Hussar saddles, which these
people have adopted. The Mameluke bit would also be better
than the one, which they have at present. Instead of blankets, the
saddles are placed upon loose pannels, so awkwardly stuffed, that
with a little use they would probably become perfectly unser-
viceable.
In an excursion to Palmyra, I had an opportunity of observing
a small detachment of irregular cavalry, sent as an escort by
Sheriff Pasha. The officer was scarcely in any respect superior
to the common men, who were mounted on their own horses,
without any uniformity of dress, or of appointments ; were armed
with long guns, swords, pistols, &c, and rode on Turkish saddles.
How they would have behaved, if an enemy had appeared, I
know not; but they were exceedingly active and alert, and
appeared to be well aware of their duty. They galloped
forward, and occupied the rising grounds on the front, and
flanks, till the party had passed by ; and pursued every horse-
man, or camel they saw in the distance; in marching at
night they kept as close together as possible ; but, when they
halted in the evening, they did not appear to have any idea of
precaution (possibly because no danger was apprehended), for
they took off their bridles, and turned their horses loose to graze
on the scanty herbage of the desert, without any vidette, or
sentry; and then lighted large fires, so that their numbers, and
position could be distinctly seen, whilst the advance of an enemy
was completely concealed. They were probably a fair sample of
this species of force, as they belonged to the guard of Sheriff
Pasha, the Governor-General of Syria, stationed at Damascus.