N THE eve of the Bab's arrival at Kashan, Haji
Mirza Jani, surnamed Parpa, a noted resident of
that city, dreamed that he was standing at a late
hour in the afternoon at the gate of Attar, one
of the gates of the city, when his eyes suddenly beheld the
Bab on horseback wearing, instead of His customary turban,
the kulah(1) usually worn by the merchants of Persia. Before
Him, as well as behind Him, marched a number of horsemen
into whose custody He seemed to have been delivered. As
they approached the gate, the Bab saluted him and said:
" Haji Mirza Jani, We are to be your Guest for three nights.
Prepare yourself to receive Us."
When he awoke, the vividness of his dream convinced
him of the reality of his vision. This unexpected apparition
constituted in his eyes a providential warning which he felt
it his duty to heed and observe. He accordingly set out
to prepare his house for the reception of the Visitor, and to
provide whatever seemed necessary for His comfort. As soon
as he had completed the preliminary arrangements for the
banquet which he had decided to offer the Bab that night,
Haji Mirza Jani proceeded to the gate of Attar, and there
waited for the signs of the Bab's expected arrival. At the
appointed hour, as he was scanning the horizon, he descried
in the distance what seemed to him a company of horsemen
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approaching the gate of the city. As he hastened to meet
them, his eyes recognised the Bab surrounded by His escort
dressed in the same clothes and wearing the same expression
as he had seen the night before in his dream. Haji Mirza
Jani joyously approached Him and bent to kiss His stirrups.
The Bab prevented him, saying: "We are to be your Guest
for three nights. To-morrow is the day of Naw-Ruz; we
shall celebrate it together in your home." Muhammad Big,
who had been riding close to the Bab, thought Him to be
an intimate acquaintance of Haji Mirza Jani. Turning to
him, he said: "I am ready to abide by whatever is the desire
of the Siyyid-i-Bab. I would ask you, however, to obtain
the approval of my colleague who shares with me the charge
of conducting the Siyyid-i-Bab to Tihran." Haji Mirza Jani
submitted his request and was met with a flat refusal. "I
decline your suggestion," he was told. "I have been most
emphatically instructed not to allow this youth to enter any
city until his arrival at the capital. I have been particularly
commanded to spend the night outside the gate of the city,
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his liberality and charm of manner, won their lasting gratitude.
On the morning of the second day after Naw-Ruz, he,
mindful of his pledge, delivered the Prisoner into their hands,
and, with a heart overflowing with grief, bade Him a last
and touching farewell.