, 1844) on a sailing vessel,
accompanied by Quddus whom He was assiduously preparing for the assumption
of his future office. Landing at Jaddih after a stormy voyage of over a
month's duration, He donned the pilgrim's garb, mounted a camel, and set
out for Mecca, arriving on the first of _Dh_i'l-Hajjih (December 12).
Quddus, holding the bridle in his hands, accompanied his Master on foot to
that holy Shrine. On the day of Arafih, the Prophet-pilgrim of _Sh_iraz,
His chronicler relates, devoted His whole time to prayer. On the day of
Nahr He proceeded to Muna, where He sacrificed according to custom
nineteen lambs, nine in His own name, seven in the name of Quddus, and
three in the name of the Ethiopian servant who attended Him. He
afterwards, in company with the other pilgrims, encompassed the Kaaba and
performed the rites prescribed for the pilgrimage.

His visit to Hijaz was marked by two episodes of particular importance.
The first was the declaration of His mission and His open challenge to the
haughty Mirza Muhit-i-Kirmani, one of the most outstanding exponents of
the _Sh_ay_kh_i school, who at times went so far as to assert his
independence of the leadership of that school assumed after the death of
Siyyid Kazim by Haji Muhammad Karim _Kh_an, a redoubtable enemy of the
Babi Faith. The second was the invitation, in the form of an Epistle,
conveyed by Quddus, to the Sherif of Mecca, in which the custodian of the
House of God was called upon to embrace the truth of the new Revelation.
Absorbed in his own pursuits the Sherif however failed to respond. Seven
years later, when in the course of a conversation with a certain Haji
Niyaz-i-Ba_gh_dadi, this same Sherif was informed of the circumstances
attending the mission and martyrdom of the Prophet of _Sh_iraz, he
listened attentively to the description of those events and expressed his
indignation at the tragic fate that had overtaken Him.

The Bab's visit to Medina marked the conclusion of His pilgrimage.
Regaining Jaddih, He returned to Bu_sh_ihr, where one of His first acts
was to bid His last farewell to His fellow-traveler and disciple, and to
assure him that he would meet the Beloved of their hearts. He, moreover,
announced to him that he would be crowned with a martyr's death, and that
He Himself would subsequently suffer a similar fate at the hands of their
common foe.

The Bab's return to His native land (Safar 1261) (February- March, 1845)
was the signal for