A Traveler's Narrative
page 23
the city, Khusraw dispersed his horsemen and footmen and set
them in ambush in the forest of Mazindarán, scattered and
separated the Bábís in that forest on the road and off the road,
and began to hunt them down singly. When the reports of
muskets arose on every side the hidden secret became manifest,
and several wanderers and other persons were suddenly
slain with bullets. Mullá Husayn ordered the adhán to be
sounded to assemble his scattered followers, while Mírzá
Lutf-`Alí the secretary drew his dagger and ripped open
Khusraw's's vitals. Of Khusraw's's host some were slain and
others wandered distractedly over the field of battle. Mullá
Husayn quartered his host in a fort near the burial-place of
Shaykh Tabarsí, and, being aware of the wishes of the community,
relaxed and interrupted the march. This detachment
was subsequently further reinforced by Mírzá Muhammad-`Alí
of Mazindarán with a number of other persons, so that the
garrison of the fort numbered three hundred and thirteen
souls. Of these, however, all were not capable of fighting, only
one hundred and ten persons being prepared for war. Most of
them were doctors or students whose companions had been
during their whole life books and treatises; yet, in spite of the
fact that they were unaccustomed to war or to the blows of shot
and sword, four times were camps and armies arrayed against
them and they were attacked and hemmed in with cannons,
muskets, and bomb-shells, and on all four occasions they
inflicted defeat, while the army was completely routed and
dispersed. On the occasion of the fourth defeat Abbás-Qulí
Khán of Laríján was captain of the forces and Prince
Mihdí-Qulí Mírzá commander in the camp. The Khán above
mentioned used at nights to conceal and hide himself in
disguise amongst the trees of the forest outside the camp, while
during the day he was present in the encampment. The last
battle took place at night and the army was routed. The Bábís
fired the tents and huts, and night became bright as day. The
foot of Mullá Husayn's's horse caught in a noose, for he was
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