E. G. Browne's
"A Traveller's Narrative:" Note I[page 262]
NOTE I.
THE BÁB'S ESCAPE FROM SHÍRÁZ TO
ISFAHÁN.
According to the Táríkh-i-
Jadíd the Báb, after his examination before Huseyn Khán
on Ramazán 21st, A.H. 1261 (Sept. 23rd, A.D. 1845), was confined, not, as
stated in this history (p. 6), in the house of his uncle Hájí Seyyid
'Alí, nor, as asserted by the Musulmán historians, in prison, but in the house
of 'Abdu'l-Hamíd Khán the Dárúghá or
chief constable of Shíráz. That for some portion of the six months which
elapsed between his arrest and his escape to Isfahán the Báb was an inmate of
the house of this official would appear certain, for Subh-i-Ezel, whom I
questioned on the subject, affirmed this to have been the case, adding, in answer to further
questions as to how strict was the custody in which he was kept, that the rawza-
khwáns or religious recitations, of which the constable's house was frequently
the scene, afforded opportunities to the Bábís of seeing and conversing with
their Master.
That some attack on the Báb's house such as that
described at p.10 of the present work did take place appears to be proved by the following
passage from one of the Báb's works, for which I am also indebted to
Subh-i-Ezel:-
[two lines of Persian/Arabic text]
"His party entered in unto my house on the 'Night of
Worth'1and took what they could of that which my Lord hath caused
me to possess, at the command of the ruler of Fárs, upon whom be the curse of
God!"
1 The Leylatu'l-kadr ("Night of Worth" or
"Decrees") is generally supposed to be the night between the 23rd and 24th of
Ramazán. (See Sale's translation of the Kur'án, note on
sura xcvii.)
[page 263]
The account of the Báb's escape from
Shíráz contained in the Táríkh-i-Jadíd differs
somewhat from that here given, and is in substance as follows. When the plague broke out in
Shíráz the son of 'Abdu'l-Hamíd Khán was amongst
those stricken by the awful malady. 'Abdu'l-Hamíd Khán in his
distress and anxiety appealed to the Báb, entreating him to pray for the youth's
recovery. This shortly took place; whereat the grateful father sought out his illustrious
guest, and, with profuse expressions of thankfulness, assured him that he might consider
himself free to go where he pleased. According to the Musulmán accounts (which,
together with a note containing a very pertinent criticism on their intrinsic improbability,
will be found in Kazem-Beg's first paper, pp. 348-349) Minúchihr Khán
Mu'tamadu'd-Dawla, the governor of Isfahán, sent horsemen to
Shíráz expressly to deliver the Báb from his captivity and bring him
to Isfahán. It is but fair to add that Subh-i-Ezel also attributed the
Báb's release directly to Minúchihr Khán's efforts.
Of the Báb's journey to Isfahán in company
with Áká Huseyn of Ardistán and
Áká Seyyid Kázim of Zanján (who died shortly
after reaching Isfahán) the Táríkh-i-Jadíd gives a
detailed account on the authority of Hájí Mírzá
Jání of Káshán, who had heard it from the above-mentioned
Áká Muhammad Huseyn himself. The most noteworthy
feature of this account is its evident tendency to invest in the Báb's slightest actions
with a miraculous character.
The Báb probably reached Isfahán early in
the summer of A.D. 1846, since, according to both the Musulmán historians, his
captivity at Shíráz lasted six months, and since, according to the present
history (p. 11), the hot weather (which seldom sets in till the beginning of May at the
earliest) had already begun ere he left Shíráz. On approaching Isfahán
he addressed a letter to the governor Minúchihr Khán asking permission to
enter the city and craving protection. Of this letter Kazem-Beg (i. p. 352 and note) gives a
translation, which, as it appears to be derived from authoritative sources, I here
reproduce:- "Poursuivi par tous, persécuté, j'accours me placer
sous
[page 264]
votre égide; j'attends votre réponse au seuil de la capitale, et n'y entrerai pas
avant d'avoir obtenu l'assurance de votre protection."
During the first forty days of his sojourn in Isfahán
the Báb was, as stated at p. 11 of the present work and also in the
Táríkh-i-Jadíd, the guest of the Imám-Jum'a, who at
first treated him with great respect, and at whose request he wrote the Commentary on
the Súratu'l-'Asr. Of this work I have been fortunate enough to obtain a
MS. quite recently. [See infra at the end of Note U].