'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎215] (250/450)

LET. III.]
CLIMATE OF SHIRAUZ.
215
I prefer this climate much beyond that of Koor-
distan, as the days are not so hot nor the nights so
cold; and when the season begins to cool, the days
and nights cool together in an equal proportion. In
Koordistan the nights alone grew chilly, while the
days remained scorching. The climate here is ex
ceedingly regular. For days together the tempera
ture is exactly the same to a degree. The usual
temperature is 90°, at the hottest time, being from
twelve till three; 82 c at night, when I go to bed;
and 71° in the morning, just before the sun appears
above the hills. The wind has no tendency to get
heated, which is curious considering the bare rocky
mountains by which the plain is surrounded; and
all winds are alike agreeable. This may proceed
from the great elevation ol the level. In Koordistan,
last year at this time, the thermometer was 96° and
97° at the highest, with a hot wind, and at night it
fell to 75°, and was 65° in the morning. The winter
here is said to be agreeable and much milder than
that of Isfahaun; but the Persian houses seem but
bad winter habitations. The water is excellent here.
As we live in a garden, among tall cypress trees, we
are a little tormented by musquitoes, but not by flies
in the (jay time, and, what is better, there are no
sandflies. I think, on the whole, Shirauz is by iar
the best place in the Gull lor a person to come
from India to spend a season; and by landing at
Bunder Abbassi they would save the unpleasant