y beyond the discernment natural to the human race. From His
early years He was the hope of His kindred and the unique one of His
family and race, nay, their refuge and shelter.

However, in spite of these conditions and circumstances, as He wore a
kulah on His head and locks flowing over His shoulder, no one imagined
that He would become the source of such matters, or that the waves of His
flood would reach the zenith of this firmament.

When the question of the Bab was noised abroad signs of partiality
appeared in Him. At the first He apprised His relatives and connections,
and the children and dependents of His own circle; subsequently He
occupied His energies by day and night in inviting friends and strangers
[to embrace the new faith]. He arose with mighty resolution, engaged with
the utmost constancy in systematizing the principles and consolidating the
ethical canons of that society in every way, and strove by all means to
protect and guard these people.

When He had [thus] established the foundations in Tihran He hastened to
Mazindaran, where He displayed in assemblies, meetings, conferences, inns,
mosques, and colleges a mighty power of utterance and exposition. Whoever
beheld His open brow or heard His vivid eulogies perceived Him with the
eye of actual vision to be a patent demonstration, a latent magnetic
force, and a pervading influence. A great number both of rich and poor and
of erudite doctors were attracted by His preaching and washed their hands
of heart and life, being so enkindled that they laid down their lives
under the sword dancing [with joy].

Thus, amongst many instances, one day four learned and accomplished
scholars of the divines of Nur were present in His company, and in such
wise did He expound that all four were involuntarily constrained to
entreat Him to accept them for His service. For by dint of His eloquence,
which was like "evident sorcery," He satisfied these eminent doctors that
they were in reality children engaged in the rudiments of study and the
merest tyros, and that therefore they must read the alphabet from the
beginning. Several protracted conferences were passed in expounding and
elucidating the Point and the Alif of the Absolute, wherein the doctors
present were astounded, and filled with amazement and astonishment at the
seething and roaring of the ocean of His utterance. The report of this
occurrence reached the hearing of far and near, and deep despondency fell
on t