Ch.XXII, p.508, f.2
"On the following day, early in the morning, the people of Hamzih
Mirza, having opened the doors of the prison, brought out the Bab and his
disciples. They made sure that the irons which they had around their necks
and on their wrists were secure; they tied to the iron collar of each one a
long cord the end of which was held by a farrash. Then, so that everyone
could see them well and recognize them, they walked them about the town,
through the streets and the bazaars, overwhelming them with blows and
insults. The crowd filled the streets and the people climbed upon each
others' shoulders better to see this man who was so much talked about. The
Babi's, scattered in all directions, were trying to arouse among some of
the onlookers a little pity or some feeling of sympathy which might have
helped them to save their Master. The indifferent ones, the philosophers,
the Shaykhis, the Sufis, turned away from the sight with disgust and
returned to their houses, or on the contrary waited for the Bab at a
street corner and simply watched him with silent curiosity. The tattered
crowd, restless and excitable, flung insulting words at the three martyrs,
but they were all ready to change their minds with any sudden change of
circumstances.
"Finally, the victorious Muhammadans pursued the prisoners with insults,
tried to break through the guard in order to strike them in the face or on
the head and when they succeeded, or when a missile thrown by some child
would strike the Bab or one of his companions in the face, the guard and
the crowd would burst into laughter." (Comte de Gobineau's "Les Religions
et les Philosophies dans l'Asie Centrale," p. 220.)