Mongol Horde: Ascaris?

[Kubz]

In the Mongol horde scenario in Civ2: Scenarios, the Turks have a cavalry unit called an Ascaris. What is that supposed to be, I looked up Ascaris and all I can find is that it is some kind of ring worm. Where did the makers of that scenario get this unit from? I would like to know for a civ3 Mongol scenario.

 

[Deadeye]

Interesting.
Magic: the Gathering had a few creature cards some years ago that were "Askari"--"Burning Shield Askari" "Fallen Askari" and were in a Middle Eastern themed group of cards.

 

[The Last Conformist]

The word appears to've been used of local troops used by the colonial powers in Africa in the 19th C. Could be of Turkic origin as far as I know.

Alternatively, it could be an error for "Akinci", also spelt "Akinji", which designated volunteer light cavalry in the Ottoman army.

I too remember those Magic cards ... terrible what time passes.