The Army of the Indian Moghuls: Its Organization and Administration c13.7

c13.7

As to the size of the *zambūrak* or *shutarnāl*, we are told by Bernier, 217, that it was “a small field-piece of the size of a double musket”. Horn, 28, quoting from the French edition of Bernier (Paris, 1670, p. 110, ed. A. Constable 47, 218) adds that “a man seated behind it on the camel can load and discharge the gun without dismounting”. A later observer gives a different account of their use (Seir, i, 250, note 34). “Zamburaks are long swivels with one or two-pound balls. Two of them are carried fastened upon the saddle of a camel; and when they are brought into play, the camel is, as usual, made to kneel on the ground; but to prevent his rising, each leg is fastened, bent at it is, with cord, and the animal remains immoveable”. According to Jonas Hanway, “Revolutions of Persia”, 3d ed. 1762, ii, 153, this method was also adopted by the Persians for their “harquebuses”. “Each of these pieces, with its stock, was mounted on a camel, which lay down at command; and from the backs of these animals, trained to this exercise, they charged and fired these arms”. Mundy, 215, states the way of using the camel-gun differently: “the gun revolves on a swivel fixed on the pummel of the saddle, and the bombardier, sitting astride behind it, loads and fires with wonderful quickness”. This refers to Sendiah’s army in 1828.