s strictly forbidden. They are very kind to people of
other faiths who are not Mohammedans; them they hate. Mehdeialzaman
preached these doctrines and won many hearts. The converts were
generally intelligent and well educated. His doctrine spread through
the southern and northeastern parts of Persia. Among his followers were
two prominent and attractive persons, Mollah Hussein and Hajee Mohammed
Ali. He called them his right and left hand supporters. Another convert
of importance was a lady of rare attainments. In poetry she was
accomplished, in beauty wonderfully rare, and she was highly educated.
She traveled with two assistants from state to state and from city to
city preaching the new doctrine. She never met Bobe, the founder and
knew of him only through letters. She said that God had endowed him
with unusual gifts for this holy cause. By the power of her eloquence
she made many converts, and was called by her followers, Kurratool
Alaein, which is a very high title.

PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF BOBE.

In stature he was tall and slender, eyes black; eyebrows, heavy and
long; beard, patriarchal. His countenance was very pleasant and
attractive. In conversation with high and low classes of people alike
he showed himself a servant of all. He was poetical, a great orator and
a deep thinker. He wrote many beautiful poems. His epistles to his
disciples were philosophical. His words in sermons touched the hearts
of men. When orthodox Mohammedans saw that Bobeism was spreading among
the people, the priesthood and the government joined in severely
persecuting the disciples of the new faith. The disciples were
scattered by this persecution to different cities which resulted in a
still greater spread of the new doctrine. At that time the prophet
appointed eighteen of his apostles as guards of the faith. Two of them
were women, and he requested that this rule be followed in future ages.
About this time Bobe and his twelve disciples were arrested in Shiraz
and taken to Isphahan. While imprisoned there his doctrines were being
rapidly carried on by his followers. He was finally banished to Makoo,
an obscure town between Persia and Russia, as it was thought his
religion could not spread from such an obscure place. But his doctrine
soon prevailed there. At last the priesthood and government decided to
bring him to Tabreez to be shot. After his arrival in Tabreez many
learned priests came to discuss doctrines with him, but none were a