ns of every class, He used to please all, whether inhabitants or
visitors, by His kindly intercourse and courteous address; and this sort
of demeanor and conduct on His part led them to suspect sorcery and
account Him an adept in the occult sciences.

During this period Mirza Yahya remained concealed and hidden, continuing
and abiding in his former conduct and behavior, until, when the edict for
the removal of Baha'u'llah from Ba_gh_dad was issued by His Majesty the
Ottoman monarch, Mirza Yahya would neither quit nor accompany [Him]: at
one time he meditated setting out for India, at another settling in
Turkistan; but, being unable to decide on either of these two plans, he
finally, at his own wish, set out before all in the garb of a dervish, in
disguise and change of raiment, for Karkuk and Arbil. Thence, by
continuous advance, he reached Mosul, where, on the arrival of the main
body, he took up his abode and station alongside their caravan. And
although throughout this journey the governors and officials observed the
utmost consideration and respectfulness, while march and halt were alike
dignified and honorable, nevertheless was he always concealed in change of
raiment, and acted cautiously, on the idea that some act of aggression was
likely to occur.

In this fashion did they reach Constantinople, where they were appointed
quarters in a guesthouse on the part of the glorious Ottoman monarchy. And
at first the utmost attention was paid to them in every way. On the third
day, because of the straitness of their quarters and the greatness of
their numbers, they migrated and moved to another house. Certain of the
nobles came to see and converse with them, and these, as is related,
behaved with moderation. Notwithstanding that many in their assemblies and
gatherings continued to condemn and vilify them saying, "This sect are a
mischief to all the world and destructive of treaties and covenants; they
are a source of trouble and baleful to all lands; they have kindled a fire
and consumed the earth; and though they be outwardly fair-seeming yet are
they deserving of every chastisement and punishment," yet still the Babis
continued to conduct themselves with patience, calmness, deliberation, and
constancy, so that they did not, even in self-defense, importune [the
occupants of] high places or frequent the houses of any of the magnates of
that kingdom. Whomsoever amongst the great He [Baha] interviewed on His
own account, the