ched on Mount Carmel, and the
utmost joy shall be realized." This declaration was a great source of
consolation to His followers, and in due course it was literally
fulfilled. The story of how the prison doors were opened had best be told
in the words of 'Abdu'l-Baha, as translated by His grandson, Shoghi
Effendi:--

Baha'u'llah loved the beauty and verdure of the country. One day
He passed the remark: "I have not gazed on verdure for nine years.
The country is the world of the soul, the city is the world of
bodies." When I heard indirectly of this saying I realized that He
was longing for the country, and I was sure that whatever I could
do towards the carrying out of His wish would be successful. There
was in Akka at that time a man called Muhammad Pa_sh_a Safwat, who
was very much opposed to us. He had a palace called Mazra'ih,
about four miles north of the city, a lovely place, surrounded by
gardens and with a stream of running water. I went and called on
this Pa_sh_a at his home. I said: "Pa_sh_a, you have left the
palace empty, and are living in Akka." He replied: "I am an
invalid and cannot leave the city. If I go there it is lonely and
I am cut off from my friends." I said: "While you are not living
there and the place is empty, let it to us." He was amazed at the
proposal, but soon consented. I got the house at a very low rent,
about five pounds per annum, paid him for five years and made a
contract. I sent laborers to repair the place and put the garden
in order and had a bath built. I also had a carriage prepared for
the use of the Blessed Beauty.(18) One day I determined to go and
see the place for myself. Notwithstanding the repeated injunctions
given in successive firmans that we were on no account to pass the
limits of the city walls, I walked out through the City Gate.
Gendarmes were on guard, but they made no objection, so I
proceeded straight to the palace. The next day I again went out,
with some friends and officials, unmolested and unopposed,
although the guards and sentinels stood on both sides of the city
gates. Another day I arranged a banquet, spread a table under the
pine trees of Bahji, and gathered round it the notables and
officials of the town. In the evening we all returned to the town
together.

One day I went to the Holy Presence of the Blessed Beauty and