I was told that in 1894-95 twenty thousand Persian passports were issued from the Embassy in Constantinople.

This would include pilgrims as well as home visitors.
It is this love of country (not in the sense, however, of patriotism as understood in the West) which makes a Persian cling to his national representative abroad, and willingly pay for frequent registration as a subject who is entitled to protection and permission to return home whenever he may choose.

As a rule, the Persian abroad always appears in the distinctive national dress--the tall black lambskin cap and the coat with ample skirt of many pleats.
I have mentioned the Persian porters who are seen at Baku; they are also to be found at Petrovsk and Astrachan, and are generally preferred to the local labourers, who, in common with their class in Russia, take a long drink once a week, often unfitting them for their work the following day.

The Persians are of sober habits, and can be relied upon for regular attendance at the wharfs and loading-stages.

They have learnt, however, to take an occasional taste of the _rakivodka_ spirit, and when reminded that they are Mohammedans, say that the indulgence was prohibited when no one worked hard.