Fraser says of the Mohammedans of Persia that in private they often solace themselves with copious libations from the wine-cup; that “in truth many of the Persians are great topers in spite of the prohibition of their Prophet; and when they betake themselves to this kind of pastime, they seldom stop short of absolute intoxication.... They see no disgrace in drunkenness, and envy Christians the supposed privilege of getting tipsy when they choose, without check or reproach.”[94] A still more recent traveller and author has published a graphic account of life in Persia which fully confirms these statements. Arthur Arnold says, “I have never seen people drink ardent spirits in such large quantities as some Mohammedans of station whom I met in travel. A Moslem prince lately asked me why I drank wine. ‘It does not make you drunk. _I_ take arrack,’ he added. English doctors in the East are frequently summoned to cases of _delirium tremens_.... The rich Moslem drinks privately, the non-Mussulman publicly. The Moslem drinks at night, the non-Mussulman at all times.”[95] Perhaps a majority of Mohammedans, he says, would refuse to drink intoxicating liquors, but taking a large body of servants, very few will regard the Koran as our Good Templars. Amongst the wandering tribes he found the prohibition quite unheeded, and the remarks which he makes concerning their customs, without any special intention to treat of their drinking habits, afford the best evidence of their intemperance. In one place,[96] describing a native dinner-party, he says, “A servant walked round the room carrying a large bottle of arrack in one hand and wine in the other. The Khan took half a tumbler of the fiery spirit, and drank it off without winking; most of the guests preferred arrack.” Elsewhere he says, “The arrack and wine circulated.” He describes amongst the towns which he visited one he calls a temperance city.[97] “In Koom we found it impossible to refill our empty wine bottles. Something stronger than the Maine Liquor Law prevails in this sacred city, and in that of Meshed, where the brother of Fatima is buried. Intoxicating liquors appear absolutely unattainable, and intoxication is accomplished by those who desire that condition by bhang or opium.”