[page 171]
NOTES.
[page 172]
[blank]
[page 173]
NOTE A.
PERSIAN AND EUROPEAN ACCOUNTS OF THE BÁB
AND HIS RELIGION.
I. PERSIAN
ACCOUNTS
Four works, besides the
present, written in the Persian language treat more or less fully of the history
of the Bábí movement. Two of these, the Násikhu't-Tawáríkh and the
Rawzatu's-Safá, are general histories compiled by
Musulmán historians; one, the Táríkh-i-Jadíd, is a monograph on the said
movement, whereof the author, if not actually a Bábí, at least sympathised
warmly with the reformers; one, the Kisasu'l-'Ulamá, is a
biography of Shi'ite divines, which deals incidentally at some length with the
Bábí doctrines and the history of their originator and his precursors. Each of
these works I shall now consider in detail.
1. The Násikhu't-
Tawáríkh.
This is a general
history of the world, intended, as its name implies, to supersede all preceding
works of a similar character. Its author is Mírzá Takí Mustawfí,
better known by his poetical nom-de-guerre of Sipihr and his
official title of Lisánu'l-Mulk ('The Tongue of the Kingdom'). Gobineau,
at p. 454 of his interesting work Trois Ans en Asie (Paris, 1859), gives
a description of the social aspects of this historian (to whom he is indebted
for the greater part of the facts relating to the Bábí movement so graphically
pourtrayed in his Religions et Philosophies dans l'Asie Centrale), and of
Rizá- Kulí Khán, the author of the work to be next mentioned. The
Násikhu't-Tawáríkh consists of a series of large volumes, each of which
deals
[page 174]
with a particular period of history. The last
volume is entirely devoted to the Kájár dynasty, and with it alone are we
here concerned. It is divided into three parts, of which the first treats
of the origin and rise of the Kájárs and the reigns of Áká
Muhammad and Fath-'Alí Sháh; the second of the reign of
Muhammad Sháh; and the third of the reign of Násiru'd-Dín,
the present Sháh, down to the year A.H. 1267 (A.D. 1850-1851). A further
supplement published separately carries the history down to the year A.H. 1273
(A.D. 1856-1857). All that relates to the Bábís is contained in the
second and third parts of the main volume and in the supplement,
of the contents of which I shall immediately give a brief abstract. My intention
was to have made this abstract a complete index of contents, but, having already
written more than half of it, I perceived that it would occupy more space than
could conveniently be spared, and I was therefore compelled to confine myself to
a mere summary of the chief heads of the narrative, deferring a fuller
presentation thereof till some future occasion. This is the less to be
regretted, inasmuch as almost everything relating to the subject before us which
is contained in this history has been embodied in the works of Gobineau and
Kazem-Beg. The whole of the Násikhu't-Tawáríkh has been lithographed at
Teherán, but unfortunately the pages are unnumbered and there is no index save
occasional marginal references to the chief events narrated in the text. The
numeration of the pages here given is supplied by myself. It is re-commenced for
each part and for the supplement, but, inasmuch as my copy of the latter has no
title-page and appears to be incomplete, it cannot in this case be regarded as
having more than a relative value.
Contents of Part ii of the Kájáriyya volume in
so far
as they relate to the Bábís.
P.
130. Events of the year A.H. 1260 (A.D. 1844). Appearance of the Báb - His
parentage, education, and character - Development of his claims - Peculiarities
of his doctrines and ordinances - Reception accorded to him by different
classes.
[page 175]
P. 131. Proofs
advanced by the Báb - His innovations in matters of religion - Accusations
against the chastity and temperance of his followers - The Báb's pilgrimage to
Mecca and return to Bushire - Action taken against him and his missionaries by
Huseyn Khán Ajudán-báshí the governor of Fárs - The Báb confined
to his house.
P. 132. The Báb is entrapped
by a stratagem of Huseyn Khán's into a too free enunciation of his
doctrines - He is punished, and imprisoned with greater rigour for six months -
Minúchihr Khán Mu'tamadu'd-Dawla, the governor of Isfahán, succeeds in
effecting the Báb's release and bringing him to Isfahán, where he treats him
with consideration and kindness.
P. 133.
Huseyn Khán expels Seyyid Yahyá and other prominent Bábís from
Shíráz - Minúchihr Khán, anxious to test the Báb's knowledge, summons a number
of learned men to confer and dispute with him. [See Note J,
infra.]
P. 134. [first
7 lines]. Conclusion of this conference - Minúchihr Khán conceals the
Báb in his house and sets afloat a rumour that he has sent him to Teherán.
* *
* *
*
P.
175 [last 3 lines]. Account of the Báb's first examination before
the clergy of Tabríz in A.H. 1263 (A.D. 1847).
P. 176. Continuation of the same. [See note M,
infra.]
P. 177. Continuation
of the same.
"
P. 178 [first 9
lines]. Conclusion of the same - The Báb is bastinadoed until he
recants.
Contents of Part iii of the Kájáriyya volume in
so far
as they relate to the Bábís.
P. 45.
Events of the year A.H. 1264 (A.D. 1848). Kurratu'l-'Ayn, her parentage,
education, beauty, learning and eloquence - She embraces the Bábí
doctrines.
P. 46 [first 12
lines]. The devotion inspired by Kurratu'l-'Ayn in her followers
- She discards the veil, and openly preaches the new doctrines - Anger of her
uncle, Mullá Muhammad Takí - He drives her from his house - He is
assassinated by Bábís - Kurratu'l-'Ayn flies from
[page 176]
Kazvín, but continues her propaganda
elsewhere. [See Note Q, infra.]
* *
* *
*
P. 53
[last line]. Mullá Huseyn of Bushraweyh and the Bábí
insurrection in Mázandarán.
P. 54. Mullá
Huseyn is converted to Bábíism - His missionary journey - His reception
and adventures in Isfahán, Káshán, and Teherán.
P. 55. Mullá Huseyn attempts to attach Muhammad Sháh and
Hájí Mírzá Ákásí to the Báb's cause - He is compelled by threats to leave
Teherán - He proceeds to Khurásán - Conversions to Bábíism - Measures adopted
against the Bábís - Hamzé Mírzá imprisons Mullá Huseyn in his camp
at Rádagán - Escape of Mullá Huseyn from custody - His journey westward,
successes, and rebuffs.
P. 56. Continuation
of Mullá Huseyn's journey towards Mázandarán - Encounter with the
populace at Miyámí and defeat of the Bábís - Altercation with Mullá
Muhammad Kázim, the mujtahid of Sháhrúd - Death of
Muhammad Sháh - Account of Hájí Muhammad 'Alí of Bárfurúsh - He
falls in with the Báb on the pilgrimage to Mecca and embraces his doctrines - He
returns to Bárfurúsh - He joins Mullá Huseyn at Mash- had - Returns
thence on the arrest of his colleague - At Badasht near Bistám meets
Kurratu'l-'Ayn and her followers who have arrived from Kazvín.
P. 57. Kurratu'l-'Ayn's address - Its
effect on the audience - She returns with Hájí Muhammad 'Alí towards
Mázandarán - Imputations on the conduct of Kurratu'l- 'Ayn and Hájí
Muhammad 'Alí - They are attacked by the people of Hazár-Jaríb - They
separate, he returning to Bárfurúsh, and she continuing to wander through
Mázandarán preaching - Mullá Huseyn joins his colleague at Bárfurúsh -
Success of the Bábí propaganda - Enmity of the Sa'ídu'l-'Ulamá - Preparations
for battle - Khánlar Mírzá's aid invoked by the orthodox party to put down the
innovators.
P. 58. The Bábís retreat from,
but return to, Bárfurúsh - 'Abbás-Kulí Khán of Láriján interferes -
Collision between the two parties in the city - Terms offered by the
[page 177]
Bábís and accepted by 'Abbás-Kulí Khán -
The Bábís retire accompanied by an escort sent by 'Abbás- Kulí Khán -
After the escort leaves them they are attacked at Khusraw of Kádí-Kalá at
the head of a band of plunderers - Khusraw is killed and his followers routed -
The Bábís take up their quarters at the Tomb of Sheykh Tabarsí.
P. 59. The Bábís fortify their position
strongly without let or hindrance, most of the nobles and chiefs of the province
having gone to assist at the Sháh's coronation at Teherán - Description of these
fortifications - Garrison and commissariat of the Bábís - Mullá Huseyn
continues his propaganda - Extreme veneration paid to Hájí Muhammad 'Alí
by the Bábís - Mullá Huseyn's encouragements and exhortations to his
followers.
P. 60. A letter arrives from the
Báb containing this passage: -
[two lines of Persian/Arabic
text]
'They [the Bábís]
shall descend from the Green Isle [Mázandarán] unto the foot of the
mountain of Zawrá [Teherán], and shall slay about twelve thousand of the
Turks' - The Government, informed of the Bábís' proceedings, instructs the
Mázandarání chiefs to take action against them - Áká 'Abdu'lláh marches
against Sheykh Tabarsí with some Afghan, Kurdish, and Turkish tribesmen
and volunteers from Kádí-Kalá - Mullá Huseyn makes a night-attack
on the besiegers.
P. 61. Áká
'Abdu'lláh is slain and his force routed with a loss of thirty killed - The
fugitives flee to the village of Farrá, which is sacked, burned, and razed to
the ground by the Bábís, and its inhabitants put to the sword - Rage of
Násiru'd-Dín Sháh on hearing this news - Prince Mahdí-Kulí Mírzá
is ordered to proceed against the Bábís with all speed and exterminate them - He
quits Teherán at the end of Muharram [A.H. 1265 = Christmas, A.D.
1848] for Mázandarán - 'Abbás-Kulí Khán marches by another route
to join him - The Prince takes up his quarters at Vásaks
[page 178]
near 'Alí-ábád - His negligence - Stormy
weather and snow come on.
P. 62. Mullá
Huseyn makes a sortie with 300 resolute men before dawn on Safar
15th [A.H. 1265 = January 10th A.D. 1849] - By means of a
stratagem he enters Vásaks, surrounds and fires the Prince's quarters, and
defeats and disperses the enemy, of whom many are killed, including two princes,
Sultán Huseyn Mírzá and Dá'úd Mírzá - Prince Mahdí-Kulí
Mírzá escapes with difficulty - Hájí Muhammad 'Alí is wounded in the
mouth
P. 63. Courageous stand made by the men
of Ashraf against the Bábís - Cowardice of the other troops - Triumphant return
of the Bábís to their fortress - The Prince is discovered and harboured by a
peasant, and his troops gradually re-assembled - He declines to risk another
encounter - Arrival of 'Abbás-Kulí Khán with his troops before Sheykh
Tabarsí - His foolhardiness and negligence - Mullá Huseyn at the
head of 400 Bábís makes a sortie before dawn on Rabí'u'l-Avval 10th [A.H.
1265 = February 3rd A.D. 1849].
P.
64. Description of the engagement - Rout of the besiegers - Mullá Huseyn
is mortally wounded - The Bábís retire in good order to their stronghold - After
their departure and the dawn of day some of the scattered besiegers return, bury
their own dead, decapitate the Bábí corpses, and retire.
P. 65. How the news of the defeat is communicated to Prince
Mahdí-Kulí Mírzá - Death of Mullá Huseyn after re-entering Sheykh
Tabarsí - His dying injunctions - His burial in the shrine - Thirty other
Bábís die of their wounds - The Bábís go out to bury their dead, find them
decapitated, and in retaliation exhume and decapitate the Musulmán corpses and
fix their heads on posts round the gate of the fortress - How the news of the
defeat is received by the Prince - After much hesitation he advances against the
Bábís and encamps at Kiyá-Kalá.
P. 66. On
reaching Sheykh Tabarsí the Prince's courage fails him - He retires to
Kásht, and there meets 'Abbás- Kulí Khán - Preparations for the siege of Sheykh
Tabarsí - Arrival of artillery - Discontent and insubordination amongst
the besieging troops caused by the wilfulness and incapacity of
Mahdí-Kulí Mírzá.
[page 179]
P. 67. Sortie of
200 Bábís - They capture one of the towers erected by the besiegers - Cruelty of
Mahdí- Kulí Mírzá to one of his wounded officers - Renewed anger of the
Sháh because the siege has lasted for four months without any decisive advantage
have been gained - Threats and reproaches addressed by the Sháh to the
besiegers.
P. 68. Suleymán Khán Afshár is
sent from Teherán to superintend the siege - Revival of the courage of the
besiegers - A breach is effected in the Bábí fortifications by means of a mine
sprung under the western tower of the fortress - A vigorous attempt to storm the
breach fails, once again through the incapacity of Mahdí-Kulí Mírzá -
Desertions from the Bábí camp - Fate of Aká Rasúl and thirty other
deserters.
P. 69. Desertion of Rizá
Khán and some others from the Bábís - They receive promises of pardon from the
Prince - They are placed in the custody of Hádí Khán of Núr - The Bábís, having
consumed all their provisions, are reduced to eating grass, leaves, boiled
leather, and broth made from the bones of dead horses - They make another
desperate sortie, and attempt, but fail, to capture the tower erected by the
besiegers against the western gate - The Bábís capitulate on receiving a written
promise, signed and sealed by the Prince, that their lives shall be
spared.
P. 70. Evacuation of Sheykh
Tabarsí and entry of the surviving Bábís (216 in number) into the
royalist camp - They are reassured by the manner in which they are at first
received, but on the following day are perfidiously massacred, except Hájí
Muhammad 'Alí and some of the other chiefs, who are reserved to grace the
Prince's triumphal entry into Bárfurúsh - The Prince visits the deserted
fortress, marvels at the skill displayed in its construction, and carries off
the spoils accumulated by the Bábís - Execution of Hájí Muhammad 'Alí and
the other Bábí chiefs by command of the Musulmán clergy - During the whole war
in Mázandarán 1500 Bábís and 500 soldiers perished.
* *
* *
*
P. 83
[last 12 lines]. Troubles at Zanján - Mullá Muhammad 'Alí
Zanjání - His character and previous career - His innovations, and disagreements
with the other clergy.
[page 180]
P. 84. He is
summoned to Teherán by Muhummad Sháh and forbidden to return to Zanján -
On the death of that king he escapes in disguise and returns home - He is
received with acclamation by his admirers - He begins to preach the Bábí
doctrines, and soon gains 15,000 adherents - Action is taken against him by the
government - Collision between him and Aslán-Khán the governor of Zanján.
P. 85. The Bábís assume the offensive -
Their organization and preparations - Fighting begins on Rajab 5th [A.H. 1266 =
May 17th, A.D. 1850. In the Násikhu't-Tawáríkh these events are described
under the year A.H. 1265, but this is an error, as proved by the accounts of
Watson and Lady Sheil] - Names of some of the killed and wounded, who number
about forty in all - Execution of a Bábí prisoner named Sheykhí remarkable for
his valour - Attack on Aslán Khán's residence by a party of Bábís led by
one Mír Sálih. - Repulse of the Bábís and death of their leader - Names
of some of the killed and wounded.
P. 86.
Arrival of Sadru'd-Dawla on Rajab 20th [June 3rd], and of
Seyyid 'Alí Khán of Fírúzkúh, Shahbáz Khán of Marágha, Muhammad 'Alí Khán
Shahsívan, Kázim Khán Afshár, and Mahmúd Khán of Khúy with large
reinforcements of cavalry and artilllery [sic] on Sha'bán 2nd-5th
[June 13th-16th] - Capture of a Bábí position held by Mashhadí
Pírí on Sha'bán 20th [July 1st] - Impatience of the Government -
Mustafá Khán Kájár, colonel of the 16th
(Shakákí) regiment, is sent to join the besiegers - Capture of a
Bábí position held by Mírzá Faraju'lláh after a desperate struggle on
Ramazán 15th [July 25th] - Besiegers further reinforced by
Násiriyya regiment and a corps of picked marksmen, and threatened with
severe punishment unless they quickly bring the siege to a close - General
attack on the Bábís on Ramazán 25th [August
4th].
P. 87. The day goes against the
Bábís till Mullá Muhummad 'Alí creates a diversion by setting fire to the
bazaar - On Shawwál 8th [August 17th] the besiegers are further
reinforced by Muhammad Khán Begler-begí with 3000 troops, 6
cannons, and 2 mortars - On the same day the Násiriyya and
Shakákí regiments are ordered to attack
[page 181]
the Bábís - The stratagem whereby Mullá
Muhammad 'Alí throws the Násiriyya regiment into confusion -
Description of the Bábí defences - The Begler-begí tries conciliatory
measures, wherein he is seconded by 'Azíz Khán Ajúdán-báshí and Mírzá
Hasan Khán the Amír-Nizám's brother, both of whom happen to
pass through Zanján at this time - Conciliation failing, a fresh attack is made.
P. 88. Failure of this attack - Punishment
inflicted on certain officers - The Sadru'd-Dawla is replaced by
Farrukh Khán (the son of Yahyá Khán of Tabríz and the brother of Suleymán
Khán the Bábí), who reaches Zanján on Zi'l-Ka'da 4th [September
11th] - Arrival of fresh reinforcements - A way of escape is
intentionally left open for the Bábís - The Bábís again turn to account the
covetousness of the troops of inflict on them fresh losses - Extraordinary
courage of the Bábí women - Letter from the Amír-Nizám to Farrukh
Khán - The stratagem whereby the Bábís decoy Farrukh Khán to his
destruction.
P. 89. Capture of Farrukh Khán
by the Bábís - He and two renegades are tortured to death and their heads cast
into the camp of the besiegers - Anger of the King at this news - More artillery
is sent against Zanján - Renewed attack on the Bábís - Capture of the Castle of
'Alí-Mardán Khán and other Bábí positions - Twenty Bábís taken
prisoners.
P. 90. Execution of these prisoners - Desertion and capture of
twenty-five Bábís - Their ultimate fate - Mullá Muhammad 'Alí is wounded
- He survives his wound for one week - His dying instructions - His death and
burial - His followers capitulate on receiving promise of pardon - Entry of the
royal troops into Zanján - Mullá Muhammad 'Alí's body is exhumed and
dishonoured - Bad faith of the royalist leaders - Plunder of the Bábí quarter -
Massacre of the Bábí prisoners on the third day after the surrender.
P.
91 [first 7 lines]. Hájí Kázim Kaltúkí and
Mashhadí Suleymán the cloth- maker are blown from the mouths of mortars -
Approval of the Sháh - Some of the Bábí chiefs are brought to Teherán - Mírzá
Rizá, Hájí Muhammad 'Alí, and Hájí Muhsin are put to death
at the command of the Amír-Nizám, while the rest are cast into
prison. * *
[Fourth and third lines from the bottom.]
Suleymán
[page 182]
Khán Afshár arrives at Tabríz with the
death-warrant of the Báb.
* *
* *
*
P. 93. Mírzá Taki Khán the
Amír- Nizám advises Násiru'd-Dín Sháh to order the Báb to
be put to death - Discussion between the King and the Minister - The Báb's
execution is finally decided on - Suleymán Khán Afshár is sent to Tabríz with
the Báb's death-warrant and instructions to Hamzé Mírzá, the
Prince-Governor of Ázarbaiján, as to the method of procedure - The Báb and his
amanuensis, Áká Seyyid Huseyn of Yezd, are brought from Chihrík.
to Tabríz - Áká [here called Mullá] Muhammad 'Alí
of Tabríz is also arrested - His brother, Áká 'Abdu'lláh, unsuccessfully
attempts to induce him to recant - Hamzé Mírzá desires the clergy of
Tabríz to dispute with and confute the Báb - They decline.
P. 94. The Báb
is brought before Hamzé Mírzá, Mírzá Hasan, Hájí Mírzá 'Alí, and
Suleymán Khán Afshár by night - Hamzé Mírzá asks him to recite verses
concerning a crystal candlestick - The Báb complies, and these verses are
written down - Hamzé Mírzá requests the Báb to repeat these verses - They
are repeated differently - It is decided to kill the Báb with the utmost
publicity - He is taken to the houses of three prominent members of the clergy,
Hájí Mírzá Bákir, Mullá Muhammad Mámakání, and Áká
Seyyid Zanvazí, who ratify the sentence of death - Áká Seyyid
Huseyn of Yezd recants - The steadfastness of Áká Muhammad
'Alí - The execution takes place on Sha'bán 27th [A.H. 1266, not
1265 as stated by Sipihr and Kazem-Beg. See pp. 45 and 186 - 187] - The
firing-party is formed of Christian soldiers - At the first volley Áká
Muhammad 'Alí is killed, but the Báb, released from his bonds by the
bullets, falls uninjured to the ground - He takes refuge in the rooms of one of
the soldiers.
P. 95 [first 9 lines]. Reflections on his
strange occurrence - The Báb is dragged forth from his retreat by Kúch
'Alí Sultán, again bound, and once more fired on by the
[page 183]
soldiers - This time he is killed - Indignities
offered to his body.
* *
* *
*
P. 112 [last
half]. The insurrection at Níríz - Áká Seyyid Yahyá of
Dáráb - His character, and that of his father Áká Seyyid Ja'far-i-
Kashfí - Seyyid Yahyá is converted to the Bábí doctrines - He goes
to Teherán to preach the new faith - He goes to Yezd - The Yezd insurrection and
its failure - Seyyid Yahyá goes to Fasá in Fárs - Bahrám Mírzá having
been dismissed from the government of Fárs, and Fírúz Mírzá not having yet
arrived to take his place, Mírzá Fazlu'lláh Nasíru'l-Mulk
is the supreme authority in the province - The nobles of Fasá request him to put
a stop to Seyyid Yahyá's propaganda.
P. 113. The
Nasíru'l-Mulk writes a letter to Seyyid Yahyá - He receives
a reassuring reply - Fresh complaints are made - Another message to Seyyid
Yahyá proves equally ineffectual - Seyyid Yahyá goes to Níríz with
the force which he has collected - Disaffection of Níríz, and unpopularity of
its governor, Zeynu'l- 'Ábidín Khán - Seyyid Yahyá, with 300 followers,
occupies an old castle near Níríz - The Nasíru'l-Mulk sends him a
third message - His answer - He makes a night attack on Níríz, sacks the town,
and puts Zeynu'l- 'Ábidín Khán to flight - Hereupon many recruits join the
Bábís, so that their forces amount to more than 2000 men.
P. 114. Fírúz
Mírzá the new governor, when distant four stages from Shíráz, receives news of
the success of the Níríz insurgents - He sends a messenger to Shíráz instructing
Mihr 'Ali Khán Núrí Shujá'ul-Mulk and Mustafá-Kulí Khán to
proceed against Seyyid Yahyá with two Káragúzlú regiments - The
Nasíru'l-Mulk writes to Zeynu'l'Ábidin Khán the fugitive governor
of Níríz ordering him to collect what forces he can and join the attacking force
- The royalist forces combine and proceed to Níríz - Preliminary skirmish -
Siege operations commenced - Failure of Mustafá-Kulí Khán's
attempts to bring about a peaceable settlement - Seyyid Yahyá supplies
his followers with amulets - Sortie of 300 Bábís - Failure of the sortie
[page 184]
after prolonged fighting, during which 150
Bábís and four soldiers are slain - Desertions amongst the Bábís - Second sortie
of the Bábís.
P. 115 [first half]. Repulse of Bábí sortie
- Valí Khán is sent with reinforcements from Shíráz - Seyyid Yahyá is
induced to quit his fortress, and, accompanied by one attendant, to return to
his house in Níríz - On his way thither he is met by the sons of 'Alí 'Askar
Khán who kill him in revenge for their father's death - Seyyid Yahyá's
two sons and thirty of his followers are brought to Shíráz - The former are
spared in consideration of their being seyyids, but the latter are put to death
by order of Fírúz Mírzá.
Contents of the Supplement to the Kájáriyya volume
in so far
as they relate to the Bábís.
P. 22. Events of the year A.H. 1268
[A.D. 1852]. Imám- Kuli Mírzá is appointed governor of
Kirmánsháh - His energy in restoring order to his province - He arrests Mullá
'Alí Asghar, a Bábí missionary, and sends him in chains to Teherán - One
Teymúr1 of Kal'a- Zanjírí claims to be the
vicegerent of the Absent Imám and draws to himself a great number of people - He
is seized and put to death by Imám- Kulí Mírzá - Account of the attempt on the
Sháh's life - Digression on the character and doctrines of Sheykh Ahmad
Ahsá'í.
P. 23. Hájí Seyyid
Kázim of Resht succeeds Sheykh Ahmad - Dissensions amongst his
followers after his death - Mullá Huseyn persuades many of the Sheykhís
to follow Mírzá 'Alí Muhammad the Báb - His journey to Khurásán - Mullá
Sheykh 'Alí [whom the Bábís entitle Jenáb-i-'Azím]
becomes a Bábí and engages in active propaganda - He goes from Kerbelá to
Káshán, where he sees and attempts to
1 Subh-i-Ezel informed me that this Teymúr was
not a Bábí but advanced a claim on his own account. After his death, however, a
youth calling himself Seyfúr, who was a Bábí, appeared, and used to
declare that he was Teymúr returned again from the dead.
[page 185]
convert Mírzá Áká Khán of Núr,
afterwards Sadr-i-A'zam (Prime Minister) - He goes to
Teherán, where, under various names and in diverse disguises, he continues his
attempts at proselytizing - During the ministry of the Amír- Nizám
he mediates a rising to be inaugurated by the slaughter of Mírzá Abú'l
Kásim the Imám Jum'a - This plot is discovered by government spies
and reported to the Amír- Nizám - Mírzá 'Abdu'r-Rahím, the
brother of Mullá Muhammad Takí of Herát, one of the disciples of
Mullá Sheykh 'Alí, is arrested.
P. 24. Mírzá
'Abdu'r- Rahím refuses to betray his confederates - Mírzá Táhir,
fellow-lodger of the above, is questioned - Hájí Seyyid Muhammad of
Isfahán is beguiled by a forged letter into revealing Mullá Sheykh 'Alí's abode
- A servant of Mullá Sheykh 'Alí's is arrested and tortured, but discloses
nothing - He is put to death, but Mírzá 'Abdu'r-Rahím's life is spared -
Mullá Sheykh 'Alí escapes and takes refuge in Sháh 'Abdu'l- 'Azím, whence
he presently flies to Ázarbaiján - On the fall of the Amír-Nizám,
Mullá Sheykh 'Alí returns to Teherán and begins to organize the conspiracy
against the Sháh's life - The house of Hájí Suleymán Khán of Tabríz becomes the
meeting-place of the conspirators, and there Mullá Sheykh 'Alí takes up his
quarters - Seventy persons are involved in the conspiracy - Nature of the plot -
Twelve Bábís volunteer for the attempt, amongst them being Muhammad
Sádik. [of Zanján], Mírzá 'Abdu'l-Wahháb of Shíráz, Mullá
Fathu'lláh of Kum, and Muhammad Bákir of
Najafábád.
P. 25. The attempt on the Sháh's
life is made on Sunday, Shawwál 28th [A.H. 1268 = August 15th,
1852] - Account of the attempt and its failure. [See
infra, Note T.]
P. 26. Fate of
the assassins - Consternation of the ministers - Conjectures as to the
originators of the plot - Firmness of the Prime Minister
(Sadr-i-A'zam).
P. 27.
Messengers despatched to all parts of the kingdom to announce the Sháh's safety
- The search for the Bábís begins - Arrest of Hájí Suleymán Khán and twelve of
his confederates - On information obtained from some of these prisoners 36 Bábís
are captured, amongst whom is Mullá Sheykh 'Alí.
P. 28. The Hájibu'd Dawla cuts off Mullá Sheykh
[page 186]
'Alí's ear - Examination of the prisoners -
Mírzá Huseyn 'Alí Núrí [apparently Behá'u'lláh himself],
Mírzá Suleymán-Kulí, Mírzá Mahmúd, Áká 'Abdu'lláh, Mírzá
Jawád of Khurásán, and Mírzá Huseyn of Kum are imprisoned, there
not being sufficient evidence to incriminate them in the plot: the other Bábí
prisoners are apportioned amongst the different departments and classes each to
be slain in such fashion as shall please those to whom he has been assigned -
The slaughter takes place on the last day of Zi'l-Ka'da
[A.H. 1268 = September 15th, A.D 1852] - Account of the
executions [see infra, Note T].
P. 29. Account of the executions continued, including that of
Kurratu'l-'Ayn [see infra, Notes Q and T] - Public
rejoicings.
Whoever carefully examines the
arrangement of matter in the Násikhu't-Tawáríkh as indicated in the above
table of contents will perceive that this arrangement is not strictly
chronological, although ostensibly intended to be so. A desire not to interrupt
the continuity of the narrative in relating an episode often induces the
historian to include under the year in which the episode which he is describing
first began, events properly belonging to subsequent years. Thus the first
public appearance of the Báb was in the year A.H. 1260, but the narrative is
carried on without interruption not only to the time of his return from Mecca to
Bushire, which certainly did not occur till A.H. 1261, but to the period of his
concealment by the Mu'tamadu'd-Dawla in Isfahán, which belongs to the
year A.H. 1262. So likewise the beginning of the insurrection in Mázandarán was
in A.H. 1264, while its final suppression did not take place till A.H. 1265; yet
the whole insurrection from its earliest beginning to its ultimate conclusion is
described under the year A.H. 1264, the only indication of a change of year
being afforded by the rotation of the months. Other instances might be adduced,
but these are sufficient to prove a fact which it is most important to bear in
mind. The erroneous dates given for the siege of Zanján and the Báb's martyrdom
(of which events, according to all testimony, the latter took place during
the
[page 187]
former) cannot, however, be satisfactorily
accounted for in this way; and I am forced to suppose that in this case the
Lisánu'l Mulk has committed a positive error, which, as it has been
copied and reproduced by Kazem-Beg and a number of writers who have followed
him, it is necessary to expose in the clearest manner possible. This I strove to
do in my first paper on the Bábis in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic
Society for 1889 (pp. 511-513), where I attempted to prove that both of the
events in question were to be assigned, not, as stated in the
Násikhu't-Tawáríkh and repeated by those who have unreservedly followed
it, to the year A.H. 1265 (A.D. 1849), but to the year A.H. 1266 (A.D. 1850). It
is unnecessary for me to repeat in this place the arguments there adduced to
support an opinion in which further study of the matter serves but to confirm
me; I will only observe that further corroboration of that opinion is afforded
not only by the present work (supra, pp. 44-45) and the
Rawzatu's- Safá, but also by Dr A. H. Wright's
memoir contributed to the Z. D. M. G. in 1851, wherein the Báb's
execution is described (p. 385) as having occurred "last year," and by
Binning (Journal of Two Years' Travel in Persia &c., London, 1857,
vol. i, p. 407), who, in a passage written in 1850 or early in 1851, remarks,
after describing the Báb's execution, that "a large number of them [i.e.
the Bábís] are now up in arms in Zenjân."
Complete impartiality is a quality we could not reasonably expect to find
in the court historian of a despot whose ears must hear what is pleasant rather
than what is true, and whose actions must be not only justified but extolled as
models of wisdom and virtue. When we consider that, apart from this, the
Lisánu'l-Mulk, as a presumably orthodox Shi'ite Muhammadan, was bound to
disparage and traduce in every way possible those whose object was nothing less
than the complete overthrow of Islám and the abrogation of its ordinances, we
cannot but admire the candour which he displays; for if, on the one hand, he
brings against the Bábís many unfounded and absurd accusations, on the other
hand he pourtrays with a fidelity scarcely surpassed by the witty and sarcastic
Comte de Gobineau the cowardice, incapacity, and treachery of Mahdí-Kulí
Mírzá, the courage of Mullá Huseyn of Bush-
[page 188]
reweyh, the constancy of Áká
Muhammad 'Alí of Tabríz, and the heroism of the Bábí women of Zanján.
Each page of the Násikhu't- Tawáríkh
consists of 29 lines containing on an average 21 words each, so that a page is
equivalent to about 600 words. That portion of the narrative which refers to the
Bábís occupies in all not less than 46 pages, and cannot contain fewer than
27,000 words.
2. The
Rawzatu's-Safá.
The Teherán lithographed edition of this work, whereof the publication
was completed in Rabí'u'l-Avval A.H. 1274 (Oct-Nov., A.D. 1857), consists
of ten volumes bound in two. Of these ten volumes the first six composed by
Mírkhwánd (d. A.D. 1498) and the seventh composed by his grandson Khwándamír (d.
A.D. 1534) constitute the whole of what is generally understood by European
writers when they speak of the Rawzatu's-Safá. The
three last (eighth, ninth, and tenth) volumes, which supplement the older work
and bring the narrative down to our own days, were written by that most talented
and learned scholar Rizá- Kulí Khán 'Lelé-Báshí,' of whose
life and works a most valuable account from the pen of Mr Sidney Churchill will
be found in vol. xviii (New Series) of the Journal of the Royal Asiatic
Society, pp. 196-206. All that relates to the Bábís is contained in the last
(tenth) volume, with which alone, therefore, we are here concerned. The
numeration of the pages in this volume is supplied by my hand, the pages in the
original being unnumbered. As the narrative of the Bábí movement here given
agrees very closely for the most part with that contained in the Násikhu't-
Tawáríkh, I shall in the summary of its contents about to be given indicate
very briefly that portion of it dealt with in each page, except in cases where
some fact is added or differently stated.
Contents of vol. x of the Rawzatu's-
Safá
in so far as they relate to the Bábís.
P. 69 [last 17 lines]. From the first
appearance of the
[page 189]
Báb to the stratagem whereby Huseyn Khán
Ajúdán-Báshí induces him to expose his ideas without
reserve.
P. 70 [first 18
lines]. From the Báb's disputation with the clergy of Shíráz to the
death of Minúchihr Khán in Rabí'u'l-Avval A.H. 1263 and the Báb's removal to
Chihrík. Reflections on the causes which led to the rapid spread of his
doctrines. He is accused of holding and teaching the doctrine of
metempsychosis.
* *
* *
*
P.
118 [first 26 lines]. From the beginning of Mullá Huseyn's
propaganda to his escape from Mash-had and advance on Mázandarán with 300 or 400
followers. It is stated that his original intention was to proceed to Chihrík.
and liberate the Báb. The last three lines of this page begin the account of the
Báb's first examination (A.H. 1263=A.D. 1847) by the clergy of Tabríz presided
over by the present Sháh, at that time Crown-Prince. The account of the
proceedings of this assembly is professedly copied "without favour or enmity"
from the report written by Hájí Mullá Mahmúd the
Nizámu'l-'Ulamá. Concerning this conference see supra, pp.
18-21, and infra, Note M.
P. 119.
Account of the conference continued.
P. 120.
Account of the conference continued.
P. 121.
Conclusion of the conference, and punishment of the Báb, who is afterwards sent
back to Chihrík. - Exasperation of the Bábís on hearing what indignities have
been offered to their master - Mullá Muhammad 'Alí of Bárfurúsh -
Kurratu'l-'Ayn - The meeting of Badasht - The attack on the Bábís at
Hazár-Jaríb - The death of Muhammad Sháh (Shawwál, A.H. 1264=August 31st
- September 28th, A.D. 18481) - Beginning of the
Mázandarán insurrection.
P. 122.
Recapitulation of Mullá Huseyn's earlier adventures and behaviour -
Narrative of events from the collision between Mullá Huseyn's 700 or 800
white-robed, white- turbaned followers and the Musulmáns of Bárfurúsh to the
occupation of Sheykh Tabarsí by the former - Description of the Bábí
fortress.
1 According to
Watson (History of Persia, p. 354), the death of Muhammad Sháh
took place on September 4th, 1848.]
[page 190]
P. 123.
Continuation of narrative of the Mázandarán insurrection to the surprise and
discomfiture of Mahdí-Kulí Mírzá by the Bábís at Vásaks.
P. 124. Continuation of narrative to the night attack of
the Bábís led by Mullá Huseyn on 'Abbás- Kulí Khán's army. The
date of this event is here stated as Rabí'u'l-Avval 10th A.H. 1266 (January
24th, A.D. 1850), which is a mistake. The correct date, Rabí'u'l-Avval (10th)
A.H. 1265 (February 3rd, A.D. 1849) is given in the
Násikhu't-Tawáríkh.
P. 125. From the
death of Mullá Huseyn to the second advance of Mahdí-Kulí Mírzá
against Sheykh Tabarsí.
P. 126.
Continuation of the narrative to the arrival of Ja'far-Kulí Khán and
Tahmásp Kulí Khán with reinforcements for the
besiegers.
P. 127. Continuation of the
narrative to the Bábí sortie, which results directly in the death of
Tahmásp-Kulí Khán, and indirectly in that of his uncle
Ja'far-Kulí Khán through the wanton and inconsiderate cruelty of
Mahdí-Kulí Mírzá.
P. 128. Conclusion
of the narrative of the Mázandarán insurrection. Beginning of the narrative of
the Zanján insurrection.
P. 129. Continuation
of the narrative to Seyyid 'Alí Khán's unsuccessful attempt at
pacification.
P. 130. Continuation of the
narrative to Farrukh Khán's capture and terrible fate.
P. 131. Continuation of the narrative to Hasan Khán's
unsuccessful attempt at pacification. (According to the
Násikhu't-Tawáríkh this event preceded the last, and this version is on
the face of it more probable.)
P. 132.
Conclusion of the narrative of the Zanján insurrection - Brief account of the
execution of the Báb at Tabríz. (The date of this event is here correctly stated
as A.H. 1266. The account itself is most meagre, amounting in substance merely
to this: that the Báb was brought from Chihrík. to Tabríz, condemned to death by
the clergy of that city, and suspended and shot, together with two of his
disciples, by the Christian regiment, his body being afterwards cast outside the
city as food for wolves and dogs.
[page 191]
No mention is made of his miraculous escape
from the first volley by the soldiers) - Beginning of the narrative of
the Níríz insurrection.
P. 133. Conclusion of
the narrative of the Níríz insurrection. (According to this account, Aká
Seyyid Yahyá of Dáráb the insurgent leader was brought to Shíráz and
there put to death. Allusion is also made to the second Bábí rising at Níríz and
the assassination of the governor Zeynu'l-'Ábidín Khán, which events occurred
about two years later. See Note H, infra.)
* *
* *
*
P.
167 [last 21 lines]. The attempt on the Sháh's life (see Note T,
infra). Preliminary recapitulation of similar attempts on the lives of
kings and ministers made by members of heretical sects - Eulogies of
Násiru'd-Dín Sháh.
P. 168. After the
death of the Báb a new leader (whom the author of this history apparently
believes to have been Mullá Sheykh 'Alí 'Jenáb-i-'Azím') is chosen
by his followers - The Bábí conspiracy - The assassination is planned by twelve
Bábís, who arrange that the attempt shall take place on the morning of Sunday
the 28th of Shawwál A.H. 1268 (August 15th, A.D. 1852) as the Sháh is riding out
on a hunting expedition from his summer residence at Niyávarán - Description of
the Royal Cavalcade and the approach of the conspirators in the guise of
suppliants.
P. 169. Of the twelve assassins,
six fail to arrive in time, while three lag behind - The three who are ready
approach the Sháh as petitioners, surround him, and fire two shots at him - The
Sháh's retainers come up and kill one of the conspirators - Another shot is
fired wounding the Sháh in the shoulder - The two surviving conspirators are
seized and retained for examination - The Sháh wishes to continue his
expedition, but is dissuaded by the Prime Minister - Panic in Teherán - The Sháh
holds a public reception on the following day.
P. 170. Messengers are despatched in all directions to announce the
Sháh's safety - Certain malicious persons strive unsuccessfully to cast
suspicion on the Prime Minister and Muhammad Hasan Khán of Erivan
- It is
[page 192]
discovered that 70 Bábís are in the habit of
resorting to the house of Hájí Suleymán Khán, on which accordingly a raid is
made, resulting in the capture of Suleymán Khán and twelve others - Mullá Sheykh
'Alí and thirty-six other Bábís are also arrested - Account of the execution of
these - The Sháh returns to Teherán from Niyávarán amidst general rejoicings on
Friday, Zi'l-Ka'da 17th, A.H. 1268 (September 2nd, A.D.
1852).
Rizá-Kulí Khán's
narrative substantially agrees with that of the Lisánu'l-Mulk, but is on
the whole less full, more bombastic, and more vituperative, execrations and
curses on the Bábís severally and generally being freely introduced throughout.
Some new dates are added, and some, such as that of the Zanján troubles, which
are erroneously stated in the Násikhu't-Tawáríkh, are here correctly
given; but, on the other hand, some fresh chronological errors, notably in the
case of Mullá Huseyn's last sortie and death, are introduced. The account
given of the Báb's death is extremely meagre; and in other parts of the
narrative we miss that abundance of detail and fulness of description which
render the Násikhu't-Tawáríkh so readable and so graphic.
Each page of the Rawzatu's-
Safá contains 33 lines, and each line an average of 26 words, making
about 858 words to the page. The number of pages devoted to the Bábís is in all
twenty and a half, so that the whole narrative above summarized contains not
fewer than 17,500 words, and is about two-thirds of the length of the account
given in the Násikhu't-Tawáríkh.
3. The Táríkh-i-
Jadíd.
Of this work, which
exists only in manuscript, two copies only, so far as I know, have reached
Europe1. One,
1 Quite recently, as I have learned from Baron Rosen, another
MS. of this work, obtained by M. Tumanski at Ishkábád, has been added to
the library of the Institut des Langues Orientales of St
Petersburg.
[page 193]
obtained by Mr Sidney Churchill, is in the
library of the British Museum, and is numbered Or. 2942. The other is in my own
possession, and is briefly described at p. 496 of my first paper on the Bábís in
the J. R. A. S. for 1889, and at pp. 1002-1003 of my second paper in the
same volume. Of the manner in which I first became acquainted with this work, of
the means whereby I obtained the MS. now in my possession, of my intention of
publishing it, and of the causes which led me to lay aside (I trust but for a
season) the text and translation on which I was engaged in favour of the present
work, I have already spoken in the Introduction. As the Táríkh-i-Jadíd is
not at present generally available to scholars, I shall confine myself to giving
a brief statement of its contents based on my own MS. Before doing so, however,
a few words must be said concerning the British Museum codex, which is superior
alike in accuracy, neatness, and calligraphy to my own.
In the MS. catalogue of recent acquisitions the MS. in question is
described thus:-
"Or. 2942. Táríkh-i-Jadíd. A
history of the Bábís. A.H. 1298 (1881). Persian."
On its cover it bears the following inscription:-
BRIT. MUS. OR. 2942 |
TARIKH
JADID PERSIAN |
Inside the cover is written:-
~~~ (sic)
The blank
leaf at the beginning bears the name of the work (~~~) both in Arabic and
English characters, the date July 1882, and Mr Sidney Churchill's signature,
substituted for that of Hr Henry Churchill through which a pen has been
drawn.
At the end of the text is the
following colophon:-
~~~
(Rajab A.H. 1298 = May
30th - June 28th A.D. 1881).
[page 194]
A final note states
that the MS. was bought of [sic] Mr S. Churchill on October 10th,
1885. It consists of 177 fol. (354 pp.). Quotations, headings, and the initial
words of sentences are sometimes written in red. The paper is of a bluish
colour. The text, so far as I have collated it, offers a good many variants
from, and some additions to, my MS., and its readings are generally
preferable.
My MS. consists of 374 pp., each
of which contains 19 lines numbering on an average 10 words apiece. The whole
history may be estimated to contain over 70,000 words.
As regards the authorship of the work, it is concealed for obvious
reasons; and indeed the author goes out of his way to describe himself as a
traveller who, having visited all parts of Europe and India, undertook a journey
to Persia for scientific purposes and especially geographical research. He
expresses thankfulness to God that he does not belong to the Persian nation,
whose faults he exposes unsparingly. He pourtrays himself as a non-Muhammadan
open to conviction on matters of religion and associating freely with all sects.
And at the conclusion of his work he apologizes for his lack of literary style,
advances as an excuse the statement that Persian is not his native tongue, and
alludes to a "treatise written in his own language in French writing" wherein
the matter in hand is more eloquently set forth. Now that any European should
have been capable or desirous of composing such a work is on the face of it
extremely improbable, and there can be little doubt that the author advanced the
statements above alluded to merely as a blind. Of the Bábís whom I have
questioned on the subject some attribute the authorship of the work to a certain
well- known and widely-travelled resident in the Persian capital, whom, as he is
still living, I do not feel myself justified in indicating more particularly;
others to his mírzá or secretary, now dead. It appears not improbable
that it was the joint product of these two. Whoever the author or authors may
have been, the information set forth is so detailed and so minute that it must
have been derived for the most part from persons who had conversed with actual
eye-witnesses of the events described, if not from eye-witnesses themselves. The
author, whether
[page 195]
he had really embraced the Bábí faith or not,
was, on his showing, a warm admirer of the Báb and his apostles and disciples,
and was during the composition of his work in continual communication with
certain prominent members of the sect. Yet the work when completed - perhaps
because of the violence wherewith it denounces the Musulmán clergy and
reproaches the Persian nation, perhaps because of the slight mention which it
makes of Behá'u'lláh (of Subh-i-Ezel it makes no mention at all)
and the exaggerated veneration paid to the Báb - did not meet with the approval
of the Bábí chiefs in Acre, and as early as the spring of 1888 I learned in
Shíráz that instructions had been issued for the compilation of a new history
more in accordance with the views entertained by those chiefs. Of these
instructions the history now offered to the public is the outcome.
Summary of the contents of the
Táríkh-i-Jadíd.
Pp.
1-381. Introduction.
" 39-40. Hájí Seyyid Kázim of Resht
foretells the approaching 'manifestation' and dies.
Pp. 41-47. Conversion of Mullá Huseyn of Bushraweyh.
Pp. 48-50. Conversions of Hájí Muhammad 'Alí of
Bárfurúsh ('Jenáb-i- Kuddús'), Mullá Muhammad Sádik.
of Khurásán ('Mukaddas'), and others.
Pp. 51-55. From Mullá Huseyn's journey to Khurásán to his entry
into Bárfurúsh with Hájí Muhammad 'Alí and their combined
followers.
Pp. 56-114. From the first
collision between the Bábís and the Musulmáns in Bárfurúsh to the fall of the
Castle of Sheykh Tabarsí.
Pp. 115-132.
Biographies of certain eminent Bábís who suffered martyrdom in Mázandarán, with
some reflections on the heroism displayed by the besieged.
Pp. 133-155. The struggle at Níríz, and reflections thereon. (See
Note H, infra.)
1:
The pagination refers to my own MS., not to the British Museum
Codex.
[page 196]
Pp. 156-163. The
siege of Zanján.
Pp. 164-166. Reflections
thereon.
"
167-176. Account of a disputation between a learned Bábí and an assembly of
Musulmán divines.
Pp. 177-201. The decadence
of the Persian empire and the deterioration of its people traced to the complete
ascendancy obtained by the clergy, whose ignorance, wickedness, and arrogance
are unsparingly exposed.
Pp. 202-222.
Personal history of the Báb from the beginning of his mission until his exile to
Mákú.
Pp. 223-236. Sufficiency of the
testimony given by a host of martyrs of every class to the truth of Bábíism.
Objections answered.
Pp. 237-240. Personal
history of the Báb continued until his removal from Mákú to
Chihrík.
Pp. 241-243. History of the
'Indian believer' (~~~)
Pp. 244-246. History
of Seyyid Basír the Indian.
"
247-249. Eulogy on the devotion and self-sacrifice of the
Bábís.
Pp. 250-261. History of the 'Seven
Martyrs' (See Note B, infra.)
Pp. 262-264. Reflections thereon.
"
265-277. History of Kurratu'l-'Ayn. (See Note Q,
infra.)
Pp. 278-280. First examination
of the Báb at Tabríz. (See Note M, infra.)
Pp. 281-286. Reflections on the unfairness of the
proceedings.
Pp. 287-300. Personal history of
the Báb until his martyrdom.
Pp. 301-305.
Review of former prophetic dispensations and comparison of these with the
present 'manifestation.'
Pp. 306-322.
Discussion of the kind of proof necessary to establish the truth of a new
revelation, and reflections on the hard-heartedness, obstinacy, and
stiff-neckedness of the Musulmáns in general and their clergy in particular,
together with further proofs of their want of
[page 197]
fairness illustrated by additional details
concerning the conference at Isfahán. (See Note J, infra.)
Pp. 323-331. The irrational beliefs, absurd traditions, and
gross ignorance of the generality of Shi'ite divines.
Pp. 332-369. Account of a discussion which took place in the
author's presence between a Bábí and a mujtahid, and discomfiture of the
latter.
Pp. 370-372. Refutation of certain
charges falsely alleged against the Bábís.
Pp. 373-374. Conclusion.
4. The Kisasu'l-
'Ulamá.
This is a work of 350
pages containing biographical notices of 153 eminent Shi'ite divines, amongst
whom the author, Mírzá Muhammad ibn Suleymán-i-Tanakábuní, includes
himself. It was published for the second time at Teherán in A.H. 1304 (A.D.
1886-7), together with two treatises composed by Seyyid Murtazá
''Ilmu'l-Hudá,' which are included in the same volume. The second
biography in this volume, extending from p. 12 to p. 43, is devoted to Hájí
Mullá Muhammad Takí ibn Muhammad al-Burghání
al-Kazvíní, called by the Shi'ites Shahíd-i-Thálith ('the Third
Martyr'), and treats incidentally at some length of the Bábís, with whom the
subject of the memoir in question came into such fatal collision. Of the book
under consideration we are here concerned with this section alone, and indeed
only with a part of that.
Hájí Mullá
Muhammad Takí was the eldest of three brothers, of whom the
second, Hájí Mullá Muhammad Sálih, was also a divine and
jurisconsult, while the third, Hájí Mullá 'Alí, was first a disciple of Sheykh
Ahmad Ahsá'í and afterwards a partisan of the Báb. Now Hájí Mullá
Muhammad Takí detested Sheykh Ahmad and his doctrines, and
was indeed the first amongst the Shi'ite clergy to denounce him as a dangerous
heretic; but if his detestation of the Sheykhís was great, much bitterer and
more violent was his hatred of the Bábís. The fact that not only his youngest
brother Hájí Mullá 'Alí, but also his niece and daughter- in-law Zarrín-Táj (or,
to give her the title whereby she has become for ever famous,
Kurratu'l-
[page 198]
'Ayn), had embraced the doctrines which he so
abhorred, must have greatly conduced to an intensification of this hatred, which
rose to such a pitch that, as we learn from the present work, he was during the
last year of his life chiefly engaged in violent public denunciation of the Báb
and his religion. This cost him his life; for at length certain Bábís, stung by
his words into uncontrollable anger, fell upon him early one morning as he was
praying in the mosque, and with knives and daggers inflicted on him eight
wounds, from the effects of which he expired two days later. He was buried at
Kazvín in the precincts of Sháhzádé Huseyn.
Contents of the Kisasu'l-'Ulamá in so far as
they
relate to the Bábís.
P. 20.
Hájí Mullá Muhammad Takí first denounces Sheykh Ahmad
Ahsá'í as a heretic - Account of Sheykh Ahmad.
Pp. 21-30. Account of Sheykh Ahmad and Hájí Seyyid
Kázim - Exposition and refutation of their doctrines. (See Note E,
infra, and B. ii, pp. 890-892.)
Pp.
30-35. Account of Hájí Muhammad Karím Khán of Kírmán - Further remarks on
the Sheykhí doctrines.
P. 36. Account of the
assassination of Hájí Mullá Muhammad Takí by certain Bábís in A.H.
1264 (A.D. 1848).
P. 37. Account of Mírzá
'Alí Muhammad the Báb - His diligent attendance at Hájí Seyyid
Kázim's lectures. (See B. ii, p. 894.) P. 38.
How the attention of the author was first drawn to the Báb (see B. ii, pp. 894,
895) - The Báb returned to Bushire and begins to practise austerities - He
composes a 'Kur'án' - The heresy of his doctrines exposed.
P. 39. Imprisonment of the Báb at Chihrík. - His first
examination before the clergy of Tabríz. (See Note M,
infra.)
Pp. 40, 41. Account of the
Báb's examination continued and concluded - He is bastinadoed - Further
particulars concerning Hájí Muhammad Karím Khán.
Pp. 42, 43. Disparagement of Hájí Muhammad Karím Khán, and
proofs of his lack of scholarship.
[page 199]
II. OTHER WRITINGS IN ORIENTAL LANGUAGES
WHEREIN
INCIDENTAL REFERENCE TO THE BÁBÍS IS MADE.
Besides the Persian works above noticed which bear directly
on the history of the Bábí movement, we may observe that the Persian poet
Ká'ání has two kasídas written to celebrate the
Sháh's escape from the attempt on his life1. These,
however, as one would naturally expect, throw very little new light on the facts
of the case. It is said that Ká'ání was at first disposed to regard the
Báb with favour, and that the kasída beginning:-
[two lines of Persian/Arabic text]
"The
ensample of men and jinn hath appeared,
The leader of these and those
hath appeared,"
was written in his honour. If this be so, it is
by no means the only instance of inconsistency wherewith this talented but
fickle poet can be taxed.
In Arabic
there is an article on Bábíism in the Encyclopaedia (~~~) of
Butrusu'l-Bustání (Beyrout, 1881) which contributes some important facts
not previously published, but also contains one or two grave errors. It
comprises about 1600 words, and is based on information communicated by Seyyid
Jemálu'd-Din al-Afghán. Of a portion of this I published a translation in my
second paper on the Bábís (J. R. A. S. for 1889, pp.
942-943).
In Turkish a short article
of about 240 words in vol. ii of Sámí Bey's Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire
et de Géographie (~~~, Constantinople, A.H. 1307) contains no new facts, but
several new errors.
1: See infra, Note
T
[page 200]
III. EUROPEAN ACCOUNTS.
Numerous accounts of the Báb and his religion have been
published in Europe, and these, so far as they are known to me, I shall now
enumerate in the order of their publication, noting as far as possible whence
each work derives the information which it embodies. A mere casual remark of
some traveller often sheds a fresh ray of light on the matter, or helps to
decide some doubtful date, and therefore I shall include in my list several
works wherein only a few paragraphs are devoted to the Bábís; while on the other
hand I do not consider it necessary to refer to all of the numerous articles on
the subject which have appeared in various encyclopaedias and magazines, since
these for the most part merely repeat more or less fully and eloquently the
facts recorded by other writers.
[A.D.
1851.] Bâb und seine Secte in Persien, by A. H. Wright of
the American Mission at Urúmiyya, Persia, contributed by J. Perkins, also of the
aforesaid Mission, to the German Oriental Society, and published in Vol. v of
the Z. D. M. G. (Leipzig, 1851, pp. 384-385). From a note appended by the
Editor we learn that the MS. of this article, dated March 31, 1851, was
forwarded with a letter from Mr Perkins dated March 29, and that another copy of
the same article was sent to the American Oriental Society. From the Journal of
the last-named society it appears that this paper was read at one of their
meetings, but, so far as I can discover, it was not published, so that we have
it only in its German dress. This document is of capital importance, and I have
more than once had occasion to refer to it in my notes.
[A.D. 1856.] Glimpses of Life and Manners
in Persia, by Lady Sheil (London, 1856). The authoress of this work also was
resident in Persia during the Bábí troubles, and much valuable information is
supplied by her. That this information was derived for the most part, if not
entirely, from bitter enemies of the new faith, or in other words from persons
attached to the Persian Court, is sufficiently
[page 201]
evident. Some of the statements advanced seem
to be traceable to one or other of the Court historians whose works have already
been noticed. Others - especially one to the effect that the Báb, while resident
at Baghdad or Kerbelá, was arrested by the Turkish authorities, and only saved
from execution at their hands by the intervention of the Persian consul (p. 177)
- stand alone, and are unsupported by other testimony. What relates to the Bábís
in this work is as follows:
P. 176. Origin of
the sect.
P. 177. Personal history of the Báb
until his death.
P. 178. Confessions of ex-
Bábís.
P. 179. Bábí doctrines
exposed.
P. 180. Bábís compared to Assassins
and Mazdakites - Mázandarán and Yezd insurrections - Execution of the 'Seven
Martyrs'
P. 181. Rising at Zanján -
Probability that the Bábí faith is spreading.
* *
* *
*
Pp.
273-282. Accounts of the attempt on the Sháh's life and of the Bábí executions
which followed it, the latter translated from the 'Teherán Gazette' in which it
appeared.
[A.D. 1857.]
Journal of Two Years' Travel in Persia, Ceylon, etc., by Robert B. M.
Binning, Esq., of the Madras Civil Service (London, 1857, 2 vols). Some
few pages of the twentieth chapter of this work (vol. i, pp. 403-408) are
devoted to the Bábís. Of all accounts which I have read, not excluding those
given by the Musulmán historians, this is the most hostile, the most unfair - I
had almost said the most libellous. The writer, not content with likening the
Bábís to Mormons and Sadducees and describing their Founder as a kind of
oriental Joe Smith, casts aspersions on the Báb's honesty, and almost accuses
him of theft in so many words. This should not, perhaps, cause us much surprise
in one who considers that the Gospel of Christ would be best commended to the
people of Persia by the annexation of their country by some "Christian State,"
and who thinks that King Núshírván acted "very properly" in ordering the
massacre of Mazdak and his adherents. In
[page 202]
point of accuracy, too, this account leaves
much to be desired. Thus the author, writing in 1850-1851, describes the Níríz
insurrection and the death of Seyyid Yahyá as having occurred "about five
years ago," and states that the Báb himself travelled into Mázandarán, evidently
confusing him with Muhammad 'Alí of Bárfurúsh. Yet, open to criticism as
it is, Mr Binning's narrative has its value, and, as I have shown above (p.
187), helps to determine some doubtful points of chronology. Mr Binning appears
to have left Persia by way of Bushire on February 7, 1852, having learned,
almost at the moment of his departure, the tragic fate of Mírzá Takí Khán
Amír-Nizám, which befel in January of that year.
[A.D. 1864,65.] In the Bulletin de
l'Académie Impériale de St Pétersbourg, dated December 22, 1864 (vol. viii,
pp. 247-248), is a most valuable article by Dorn on certain Bábí MSS. belonging
to the St Petersburg collection. One of these - described as "the Koran of the
Bábís" - derives special value from the fact that it was written by the Báb's
own secretary, and by him placed in European hands. A portion of this text given
by Dorn as a specimen was pronounced by Subh-i-Ezel (to whom I
submitted it) an extract from the Book of Names (~~~). The other MS.
described is a history of the Mázandarán insurrection composed in the
Mázandarání dialect, and was obtained by Dorn during his sojourn in that
province in 1860. From the abstract given of its contents it would appear to be
of the highest interest, even though it be not in all respects worthy of
credence. A short postscript referring to the authenticity of these two MSS. is
added in the Bulletin for February 8, 1865. Concerning the occurrences in
Mázandarán, Dorn also refers to a previous article of his at p. 353 of vol. iv
of the Bulletin (Mélanges Asiatiques, vol. iv, p. 442), but this I
have not seen.
[A.D.
1865.] Les Religions et les Philosophies dans l'Asie
Centrale, by M. le Comte de Gobineau (Paris, 1865 and 1866). This most
brilliant, most graphic, and most charming work is too well known to need any
detailed description.
[page 203]
Though largely based on the
Lisánu'l-Mulk's account of the Bábí movement, it embodies also many
statements derived from Bábí sources; and not only are the facts thus obtained
sifted with rare judgment and arranged with consummate skill, but the characters
and scenes of this stirring drama are depicted in a manner so fresh, so vivid,
and so lifelike that the work in question must ever remain a classic unsurpassed
and indeed unapproached in the subject whereof it treats. The account of the
Bábí books and doctrines (occupying 50 pages) is of the utmost value, being
based on Bábí MSS. (now in the Bibliothèque Nationale at Paris) obtained by the
author; and the translation of the Book of Precepts (~~~), which forms an
Appendix of 82 pages, is still the only complete translation into any European
language of a Bábí sacred book. Of the 543 pages composing this volume, 299 are
devoted to the Bábís.
[A.D.
1865.] Persien. Das Land und seine Bewohner, by Dr Jakob
Eduard Polak, formerly Physician to the Sháh of Persia and Professor at the
Medical College of Teherán (Leipzig, 1865, 2 vols). This work, embodying
as it does researches into every phase of Persian life made by one whose
position gave him rare opportunities of observing facts which his scientific
training enabled him to describe with precision and accuracy, is also of the
highest value. What relates to the Bábís occupies only four pages (pp. 350-353)
of the first volume. Of these four pages the contents are briefly as
follows:-
P. 350. The Báb and his teaching -
Its rapid spread, especially amongst Seyyids, men of learning, and women of the
most cultured class - Kurratu'l-'Ayn - Alleged use of narcotics such as
hashísh by the Bábís - Determination of the
Amír-Nizám to put the Báb to death.
P. 351. Execution of the Báb - Insurrections in Mázandarán and Zanján.
[Both of these risings are here described as having taken place
subsequently to the Báb's death, whereas in fact the former had
terminated and the latter was in progress when this event occurred.] -
Attempt on the Sháh's life in 1852.
[page 204]
P. 352. Attempt on
the Sháh's life - Persons suspected - "Macchiavellian means" adopted for the
extirpation of the Bábís - Hájí 'Alí Khán the Farrásh-Báshí - His cruel
disposition - Partition of the Bábí prisoners.
P. 353. Horrible cruelties perpetrated on the Bábís - Their extraordinary
fortitude - The tortures inflicted on the beautiful Kurratu'l-'Ayn, and
the "superhuman courage" wherewith she endured her lingering death. [Of
this execution Dr Polak was himself a witness] - Persecutions in
the provinces - Activity of the Bábís continued, though concealed.
[A.D. 1865.] Journey from London
to Persepolis, by John Ussher, F.R.G.S. (London, 1865). This work contains
(pp. 627-629) some mention of the Bábís, and depicts in vivid colours the reign
of terror which succeeded the attempt on the Sháh's life. A portion of this
description is quoted in a footnote on p. 120, supra.
[A.D. 1866.] Bab et les Babis,
an article - or rather a series of five articles - communicated to the
Journal Asiatique for 1866 by Mirza Kazem-Beg. The Journal
Asiatique for each year being divided into two volumes in the second of
which the pagination is recommended, I have, for the sake of brevity, denoted
all that portion of Mirza Kazem- Beg's article which occurs in vol. vii (6th
series) by the abbreviation 'Kazem-Beg i,' and that which occurs in vol. viii by
'Kazem-Beg ii,' whenever I have had occasion to refer to them. The whole article
amounts to 251 pages distributed in the two volumes as follows:-
Vol. vii (sixième série), pp. 329-384. Preface, and
biography of the Báb in 16 sections.
Pp.
457-522. The Sheykhí doctrines. History of the Bábís, until the final
suppression of the Mázandarán insurrection.
Vol. viii (sixième série), pp. 196-252. History of the Bábís concluded.
(Insurrections of Zanján and Níríz, attempt on the Sháh, persecution of A.D.
1852.)
Pp. 357-400. The doctrine of the
Bábís, and its antecedents.
Pp. 473-507. Two
letters from a Bábí Seyyid -
[page 205]
Changes in the original doctrine of the Báb
wrought by his followers - Translations from a Bábí work of a devotional
character. [This work, as I have attempted to show on pp. 897-899 of my
second paper on the Bábís in the J. R. A. S., is none other than the
Ziyárat-náma - the so-called "Récit du Pèlerinage" - composed by the
Báb.] - Conclusion.
The sources from
which Mirza Kazem-Beg drew his information are, as stated by himself in a note
on p. 332 (vol. vii), the following:-
(()
The Násikhu't- Tawáríkh.
(() The MS.
History in the Mázandarání dialect described by Dorn (see p. 202, supra).
Its author calls himself Sheykhu'l-'Ajam. Kazem-Beg describes the work in
question as "full of inexactitudes," "of no historic value," and "curious only
because composed in the dialect of Mázandarán."
(() A memoir on the Bábís by M. Sévruguin, who resided for twenty years
in Persia.
(() Another memoir by M. Mochenin,
who was in Persia at the time of the Bábí troubles, and who (vol. vii, p. 371)
was so fortunate as to be at Chihrík. in June 1850, and even, as it would
appear, to see the Báb addressing the multitudes who flocked
thither.
Some of Kazem-Beg's dates and facts
I have already had occasion to criticize (though in almost all such cases it is
the Násikhu't- Tawáríkh which is ultimately responsible); neither can I
concur in several of the views which he advances (especially his estimate of the
characters of Áká Seyyid Huseyn of Yezd and Áká Seyyid
Yahyá of Dáráb and his theory of the passive part taken by the Báb in the
formation of the new doctrines); but, whatever new light further research may
throw on the subject treated of by Mirza Kazem-Beg, there is no doubt that his
work will always remain one of the chief authorities thereon.
[A.D. 1866.] History of Persia
from the beginning of the Nineteenth Century to the Year 1858, by Robert
Grant Watson, formerly attached to Her Majesty's Legation at the Court of Persia
(London, 1866). This work is also of the utmost value, since the author, from
the position which
[page 206]
he occupied, had at his disposal the best means
for arriving at the truth of matters of historical fact (especially of
chronology), and was, moreover, by no means disposed unreservedly to follow the
Musulmán historians, of whose unreliability he was well aware. What refers to
the Bábís in this work is as follows:-
Pp.
347-352. Origin of the movement - Early life of the Báb - The treatment
experienced by him at the hands of Huseyn Khán - Edicts against the
Bábís.
* *
* *
*
Pp.
360-362. Rising at Yezd (not described in this passage as Bábí).
P. 385. Yezd rising described as a Bábí
movement.
P. 386. Account of the 'Seven
Martyrs'
P. 387. Siege of
Zanján.
Pp. 388-392. Execution of the Báb -
Fall of Zanján.
* *
* *
*
Pp.
407-410. Attempt on Sháh's life - Executions of Bábís.
[A.D. 1867.] Meine Wanderungen und
Erlebnisse in Persien, by Hermann Vámbéry (Pest, 1867). This well-known
traveller, à propos of a conversation which he had during his passage
through Mázandarán with some of the inhabitants of 'Alí-ábád, in whose minds the
recollection of the siege of Sheykh Tabarsí was still fresh, gives a
dissertation on the Bábís which extends from p. 286 to p. 303 of this work. This
account seems to be based almost entirely on what be [sic] was
able to learn from the Persians, though Gobineau's work is occasionally quoted.
The details here given concerning Suleymán Khán's martyrdom (which differ
somewhat from those embodied in other traditions) will be referred to in Note T,
infra.
[A.D.
1868.] Geschichte der herrschenden Ideen des Islams, by
Baron Alfred von Kremer (Leipzig, 1868). Twenty pages of this work (pp. 202-222)
are devoted to Bâb und seine Lehre, which article constitutes sect. vii
of Book ii. One of the Bábí MSS. in the British Museum (Or. 3114) was, as
appears from a note on the first page, bought from
[page 207]
Baron von Kremer, and contains a short note in
pencil in his handwriting, but it does not seem that he made use of this in the
compilation of the article in question.
[A.D. 1869.] L'Année Philosophique for this year
contains an article by F. Pillon referred to with approbation in the last
edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (vol. iii, s. v. Bâbi).
[A.D. 1872.] Essays
und Studien, by Dr Hermann Ethé (Berlin, 1872). Of this work 61 pages (pp.
301-362) are occupied by an essay on the Báb and his doctrine entitled Ein
moderner Prophet des Morgenlandes and based on the works of Gobineau, Kazem-
Beg, Vámbéry, and Perkins. This essay is written in a sympathetic spirit, and
the Bábí doctrines are expounded in a very lucid and logical
manner.
[A.D. 1873.]
The Journal Asiatique for this year (7th series, vol. ii, pp. 393-395)
contains an article "Sur les sectes dans le Kurdistan" by M. t. Gilbert wherein
is included a short notice of the Bábís. After briefly describing the beliefs
attributed to them by their neighbours, M. Gilbert estimates the number of those
settled in Kurdistán at about five thousand.
[A.D. 1874.] Persia - Ancient and Modern, by John
Piggot, F.SA., F.G.S, F.R.G.S. (London, 1874). The account of the
Bábí movement given in this work is full of inaccuracies. Thus, on p. 104,
speaking of the Bábís up in arms at Yezd in May 1850, the writer says, "failing
in this" (i.e. their attempt to capture the citadel) "they retired to Zinjan";
and he further describes the Báb as having been present in person amongst the
besieged in that city, and as having been captured "in one of the assaults of
the Sháh's troops" and executed there.
[A.D. 1874.] Gurret- ül-Eyn: Ein Bild aus Persiens
Neuzeit, by Marie von Najmájer (Vienna, 1874). This is a poem in six cantos
in honour of the Bábí heroine Kurratu'l-'Ayn, which, if not possessing
much historic value, is at
[page 208]
least a graceful and pleasing tribute to the
memory of a noble woman.
[A.D.
1875.] Journey in the Caucasus, Persia, and Turkey in
Asia, by Lieut. Baron Max von Thielmann, translated into English by Charles
Henneage, F.R.G.S. (London, 1875, 2 vols). The first volume of this work
contains (at p. 262) a brief reference to the Bábís à propos of
'Muridism.' The second volume contains (at p. 52) an allusion to the
Báb's execution in the citadel (arg) of Tabríz, which event is wrongly
described as having occurred in A.D. 1843; and (at pp. 90-91) an interesting
account of a Bábí named Hájí Muhammad Ja'far[footnote 1: Baron von
Thielmann's fellow-traveller is very probably identical with the Hájí
Muhammad Ja'far mentioned on p. 100, supra, and in note 1 on the
same page.] who was the author's fellow-traveller from Tabríz to
Mosul.
[A.D. 1877.]
Collections Scientifiques de l'Institut des Langues Orientales, vol. i,
Manuscrits Arabes, by Baron Victor Rosen (St. Petersburg, 1886). To this
most valuable contribution to our knowledge I have had occasion to refer
frequently, both in my second paper on the Bábís (pp. 886, 905-909, 954-960,
&c.), and in the present work. Of the two Bábí MSS. described, the first is
conjectured by Baron Rosen (and there can hardly be a doubt that his conjecture
is right) to be the Commentary on the Súra of Joseph (~~~) composed by
the Báb at the beginning of his mission; the second, concerning which I was
unable to arrive at a definite conclusion in my second paper on the Bábís (p.
954-958), has since been proved beyond all question to be a copy of Behá's
Súra-i-Heykal, whereof the Epistles to the Kings (including the Epistle
to the Sháh, a complete translation of which is given in the present
work[footnote 2: See pp. 108-151, supra, and Note X, infra.
The latter contains a translation of that portion of the Arabic exordium which
is not cited in the Persian text.]) form a portion. Baron Rosen's
convincing arguments (which he has kindly allowed me to see in proof) are
prefixed to the text of the MS., which will be published in
[page 209]
extenso in vol. vi of the Collections
Scientifiques &c., shortly to appear (p. 145 et seq.).
[A.D. 1879.] The
Deutsche Rundschau (vol. xviii, pp. 284-291) contains an article entitled
Orientalischer Socialismus by Professor t. Nšldeke, in which the tenets
of the Bábís are briefly discussed, and compared with those of the
Mazdakites.
[A.D.
1886.] Collections Scientifiques &c., vol. iii,
Manuscrits Persans, by Baron Rosen (St Petersburg, 1886). This volume,
equally valuable with the other, contains descriptions of MSS. of the Persian
Beyán (pp. 1-32) and the Íkán (pp. 33-51).
[A.D. 1887.] The Revue Critique
d'Histoire et de Littérature for April 18th of this year contains (pp.
297-298) a review of Baron Rosen's Manuscrits Persans by M. E. Fagnan.
Special notice is taken of the Bábí MSS. described by Baron Rosen, and some
valuable information is given concerning the five Bábí MSS. brought by Gobineau
from Persia, which, on the death of their owner, were bought by the Bibliothèque
Nationale.
[A.D. 1887.]
Haifa, or Life in Modern Palestine, by Laurence Oliphant (Edinburgh and
London, 1887). This work consists of a series of letters or essays on different
subjects connected with the Holy Land, of which the twenty-first, entitled
"the Babs and their Prophet" (pp. 103-107), gives an account of a visit
paid by the writer to one of Behá's gardens in the vicinity of Acre, together
with such information as to the history of the Báb and the Bábís and the
personal character and claims of Behá as he was able to collect. This account is
very noteworthy, since it is, so far as I know, the first published notice of
Behá and the Bábí colony at Acre. Several erroneous statements are made,
especially one to the effect that Behá "is visible only to women or men of the
poorest class," and that "his own disciples who visit him are only allowed a
glimpse of his august back." I myself, during the week which I spent at Acre
(April 13th-20th, 1890), was
[page 210]
admitted to the august presence four times,
each interview lasting about 20 minutes; besides which on one occasion I saw
Behá walking in his garden of Janayn surrounded by a dozen or so of his chief
disciples. Not a day passes but numerous Bábís of all classes are permitted to
wait upon him.
[A.D.
1887.] Note sur trois ouvrages Bâbis communicated by M.
Clément Huart to the Journal Asiatique for 1887 (eighth series, vol. x,
pp. 133-144). Of the first of the three MSS. described I submitted an extract to
Subh-i-Ezel, who pronounced it to be (as M. Huart had conjectured)
from his own work the Kitáb-i-Núr ('Book of Light'), or rather from one
of the two works which go by that name. The translation of
Subh-i-Ezel's words (contained in a letter written at the end of
September 1889) will be found in Note U infra. The other two MSS.
described by M. Huart appear to be from the same source. Baron Rosen alludes to
another article about these MSS. by M. Huart in the Revue de l'Histoire des
Religions (vol. xviii, p. 279-296), which I have not seen.
[A.D. 1889.] La Religion de
Bab, a little volume of 64 pages, also by M. Huart, forming one of the
series known as the Bibliothèque Orientale Elzévirienne (Paris, 1889).
This contains some translations from the above MSS. The historical portion
supplies us with no new facts.
[A.D.
1889.] The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society
[New Series] vol. XXI contains my two papers on the Bábís,
whereof the first (throughout this work referred to as B. i) is entitled The
Bábís of Persia. I. Sketch of their History and Personal Experiences
amongst them, and the second (referred to as B. ii) The Bábís of Persia.
II. Their Literature and Doctrines. These two papers embody the results of
my investigations on this subject during the year which I spent in Persia
(1887-1888).
[A.D.
1889.] Baron Rosen's Zapiski (vol. iv, parts 1 and 2, pp.
112-114) contains a short account of four Bábí works recently brought to St
Petersburg. These four
[page 211]
works are:- (1) A MS. of the ~~~; (2) A copy of
the Bombay lithographed edition of the ~~~; (3) A MS. of the ~~~ (which work I
wrongly named ~~~ in my papers on the Bábís in the J. R. A. S.); (4) A
MS. of the ~~~ (or ~~~). A much fuller description of all these will be found in
vol. vi of the Collections Scientifiques when it appears. See immediately
below.
[To appear shortly.]
Collections Scientifiques, vol. vi, by Baron Rosen. Although this volume
is not yet published, the kindness of the learned author in sending me the
proof-sheets as they were printed off has enabled me to make reference to it
when occasion required. It will contain, amongst much other valuable matter, the
complete text of the Súra-i- Heykal.
See also articles in the Encyclopaedia Britannica sv. Bâbi
(vol. iii, 1875, pp. 180-181), Persia, Modern History (vol. xviii, 1885,
pp. 650-651), and Sunnites and Shí'ites (vol. xxii, 1887, p. 665); and
articles in the following periodicals:- Contemporary Review (vol. xi, p.
581; vol. xii, p. 245), Chambers' Journal (vol. xxix, p. 45), All the
Year Round (vol. xxii, p. 149), Hours at Home (vol. viii, p. 210),
and (vol. ii, p. 793).
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