466 
XENOPHON’S RETREAT. 
of the approachirjg Greeks ; and these huge masses being dashed 
against the cliffs in their fall, the splinters, hurling every where, 
rendered it almost impossible to dare the road.” Yet Xenophon 
did dare it; he trod those exposed valleys; he scaled those 
overwhelming heights; and intimidating even the bold spirits 
from whom he sought only to fly, made a retreat more glorious 
than the most fortunate victory. But no one can sufficiently 
appreciate the invincible courage of Xenophon, nor the heroic 
following of his soldiers, who has not witnessed the terrific passes 
of Courdistan : and when armed with hostile men on every rock, 
what must have been the virtue that then led steadily forward! 
In giving that old comprehensive name to the Greek leader’s 
courage, I believe it was never more appropriately applied. 
From the nature of the road in our approach to Baytoush, we 
could not travel more than two miles an hour on an average; 
and having been nine hours in reaching our menzil, the distance 
must be about 18 miles from our last quarters. Although the 
face of these high altitudes of Courdistan bears so very savage 
and sterile an aspect, every mountain side has its villages ; and 
there are little hidden valleys close to each, which produce corn 
barley, and tobacco in abundance; the latter of a kind in general 
request over the north of Persia. But these are not all the 
vegetable treasures which these cloud-capped heights conceal; 
fruits of various sorts, and particularly grapes, pears, apples, and 
pomegranates, grow in plenty ; the vine indeed, furnishes them 
with wine and spirits, which, notwithstanding the Mahomedan 
law against it, are drank without reserve. Their cucumbers are 
excellent; and perhaps no vegetable is more sedulously culti¬ 
vated in the East, none being more universally eaten for re- 
