The Rashīdī History 162.9

162.9

When Mirzá Abú Bakr had pitched his camp at this spot, he wished to pass his forces in review, but his efforts to do so were in vain. For these Amirs, who had been used all their lives to handling the yoke [yugh], when they now raised the standard and formed in line, thought they were thrashing corn, and got in each other's way ; nor could they distinguish between right and left and centre. When their spirited steeds reared and shied, they held on anyhow to the withers, and when, in fear of their lives, they pulled at the bridle, and the horse would rear, the rider would lose his control, and slip back on the horse's haunches. If the animal started off, they would throw up the bridle and fall, like a drop of sweat, to the ground. Their bows got broken, and their arrows fell out [of the quivers]. When Mirzá Abá Bakr saw this kind of horsemanship — such soldiering and such archery — he said : " With such a troop as this, it would be dangerous to try and rob a kitchen-garden " ; and he returned, dispirited and anxious, to his tent, seriously meditating flight.