They were not long in passing over the hills to the south, and then headed eastward out over the elongated gulf.  Looking back, John saw the sandhills by the sea glistening in the bright sunlight like mounds of gold-dust.  Every leaf and stem in the scrub stood out in black and silver filigree; and euphorbias and adeniums, gouty and pompous above the lower growths, seemed like fantasies of gray on a Japanese screen covered with cerulean velvet.  It was their last sight of Persia, and one not soon to be forgotten.