I never met, however, a follower of the Prophet so open about it as our friend at Khurood.

The wine here was from Ispahan, and cost, the Persian told us, about sixpence a quart bottle, and was, in my opinion, dear at that.

Shiraz wine is perhaps the best in Persia.

It is white, and, though very sweet when new, develops, if kept for three or four years, a dry nutty flavour like sherry.

This, however, does not last long, but gives place in a few months to a taste unpleasantly like sweet spirits of nitre, which renders the wine undrinkable.
With proper appliances the country would no doubt produce excellent vintages, but at present the production of wine in Persia is a distinct failure.
Leaving at 8 a.m., we managed to reach the summit of the Koudoum by two o'clock next day, when we halted to give the horses a rest, and get a mouthful of food.