[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 255.2.7 # Storia do Mogor 255.2.7 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 255.2.7 - **Language:** English ### [255.2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.255.2.7) Armies never march in formed bodies, but always in long files. Almost every soldier has with him in camp his wife and children. Thus a soldier may be seen carrying under his arm an unweaned infant, and on his head a basket of cooking-pots and pans. Behind him marches his wife with his spears, or else his matchlock, upon her back. In place of a bayonet they stick into the muzzle of the gun a spoon, which, being long, is more conveniently carried there than in the basket borne by the husband upon his head. The want of order being so great, the desertions are very numerous, for to-day a soldier will be serving in one army and to-morrow in an opposing force ; then, when it so pleases him, he will rejoin his first service without any hesitation, and as often as not may even be promoted. These soldiers being so brave and agile, one need not be astonished at my saying that even when a battle is very bloody, the number of killed and wounded never exceeds one hundred ; because, as soon as the battle has begun, flight is resorted to on one side or the other. So great is their fear of cavalry, that forty thousand infantry will not stand against two thousand horsemen. As soon as these come in sight, the men on foot begin to run nearly as fast as the horses can gallop, even should the riders not be carrying any kind of firearm. - [Previous: 255.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.255.2.6) - [Next: 256](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.256) - [Up: 255.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.255.2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.255.2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.255.2.7) · Pramāṇa