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Indeed the turmoil raised in Chihriq eclipsed the scenes which Mah- Ku had witnessed. Siyyids of distinguished merit, eminent ulamas, and even government officials were boldly and rapidly espousing the Cause of the Prisoner. The conversion of the zealous, the famous Mirza Asadu'llah, surnamed Dayyan, a prominent official of high literary repute, who was endowed by the Bab with the "hidden and preserved knowledge," and extolled as the "repository of the trust of the one true God," and the arrival of a dervish, a former navvab, from India, whom the Bab in a vision had bidden renounce wealth and position, and hasten on foot to meet Him in Adhirbayjan, brought the situation to a head. Accounts of these startling events reached Tabriz, were thence communicated to Tihran, and forced Haji Mirza Aqasi again to intervene. Dayyan's father, an intimate friend of that minister, had already expressed to him his grave apprehension at the manner in which the able functionaries of the state were being won over to the new Faith. To allay the rising excitement the Bab was summoned to Tabriz. Fearful of the enthusiasm of the people of Adhirbayjan, those into whose custody He had been delivered decided to deflect their route, and avoid the town of Khuy, passing instead through Urumiyyih. On His arrival in that town Prince Malik Qasim Mirza ceremoniously received Him, and was even seen, on a certain Friday, when his Guest was riding on His way to the public bath, to accompany Him on foot, while the Prince's footmen endeavored to restrain the people who, in their overflowing enthusiasm, were pressing to catch a glimpse of so marvelous a Prisoner. Tabriz, in its turn in the throes of wild excitement, joyously hailed His arrival. Such was the fervor of popular feeling that the Bab was assigned a place outside the gates of the city. This, however, failed to allay the prevailing emotion. Precautions, warnings and restrictions served only to aggravate a situation that had already become critical. It was at this juncture that the Grand Vizir issued his historic order for the immediate convocation of the ecclesiastical dignitaries of Tabriz to consider the most effectual measures which would, once and for all, extinguish the flames of so devouring a conflagration.
(20:1)
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