A Traveler's Narrative
page 25
on the Qur'án, and the wonderful stratagems of the officers,
and were all put to the edge of the sword.
Were we to occupy ourselves in detail with the wars of
Nayríz and Zanján, or to set forth these events from beginning
to end, this epitome would become a bulky volume. So, since
this would be of no advantage to history, we have passed them
over briefly.
During the course of the events which took place at Zanján
the Prime Minister devised a final and trenchant remedy.
Without the royal command, without consulting with the
ministers of the subject-protecting court, he, acting with arbitrary
disposition, fixed determination, and entirely on his own
authority, issued commands to put the Báb to death. This
befell in brief as follows. The governor of Ádhirbayján, Prince
Hamzih Mírzá, was unwilling that the execution of this sentence
should be at his hands, and said to the brother of the
Amír, Mírzá Hasan Khán, "This is a vile business and an easy
one; anyone is capable and competent. I had imagined that
His Excellency the Regent would commission me to make war
on the Afghans or Uzbegs or appoint me to attack and invade
the territory of Russia or Turkey." So Mírzá Hasan Khán
wrote his excuse in detail to the Amír.
Now the Siyyid Báb had disposed all His affairs before
setting out from Chihríq towards Tabríz, had placed His
writings and even His ring and pen-case in a specially prepared
box, put the key of the box in an envelope, and sent it by
means of Mullá Báqir, who was one of His first associates, to
Mullá `Abdu'l-Karím of Qazvín. This trust Mullá Báqir delivered
over to Mullá `Abdu'l-Karím at Qum in presence of a
numerous company. At the solicitations of those present he
opened the lid of the box and said, "I am commanded to
convey this trust to Bahá'u'lláh: more than this ask not of me,
for I cannot tell you." Importuned by the company, he produced
a long epistle in blue, penned in the most graceful
manner with the utmost delicacy and firmness in a beautiful
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