A Traveler's Narrative
page 53
Bábís]. Finally, however, being dismissed, and overwhelmed
with disaster, he became penitent and sorry.
Let us proceed with our original topic. For eleven years and
somewhat over, Bahá'u'lláh abode in `Iráq-i-`Arab. The behavior
and conduct of the sect were such that [His] fame and
renown increased. For He was manifest and apparent amongst
men, consorted and associated with all parties, and would
converse familiarly with doctors and scholars concerning the
solution of difficult theological questions and the verification
of the true sense of abstruse points of divinity. As is currently
reported by persons of every class, He used to please all,
whether inhabitants or visitors, by His kindly intercourse and
courteous address; and this sort of demeanor and conduct on
His part led them to suspect sorcery and account Him an adept
in the occult sciences.
During this period Mírzá Yahyá remained concealed and
hidden, continuing and abiding in his former conduct and
behavior, until, when the edict for the removal of Bahá'u'lláh
from Baghdád was issued by His Majesty the Ottoman
monarch, Mírzá Yahyá would neither quit nor accompany
[Him]: at one time he meditated setting out for India, at
another settling in Turkistán; but, being unable to decide on
either of these two plans, he finally, at his own wish, set out
before all in the garb of a dervish, in disguise and change of
raiment, for Kárkúk and Arbíl. Thence, by continuous advance,
he reached Mosul, where, on the arrival of the main
body, he took up his abode and station alongside their caravan.
And although throughout this journey the governors and
officials observed the utmost consideration and respectfulness,
while march and halt were alike dignified and honorable,
nevertheless was he always concealed in change of raiment,
and acted cautiously, on the idea that some act of aggression
was likely to occur.
In this fashion did they reach Constantinople, where they
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