believers increased, for thereby many of the prophecies concerning the
coming of the Mihdi were literally fulfilled. Thus in a tradition recorded
by Jabir, which the _Sh_i'ihs regard as authentic, we read:--

In him shall be the perfection of Moses, the preciousness of
Jesus, and the patience of Job; his saints shall be abased in his
time, and their heads shall be exchanged as presents, even as the
heads of the Turk and the Deylamite are exchanged as presents;
they shall be slain and burned, and shall be afraid, fearful and
dismayed; the earth shall be dyed with their blood, and
lamentation shall prevail amongst their women; these are my saints
indeed.--New History of the Bab, translated by Prof. E. G. Browne,
p. 132.

Martyrdom of the Bab

On the 9th of July, 1850,(10) the Bab Himself, Who was then in His
thirty-first year, fell a victim to the fanatical fury of His persecutors.
With a devoted young follower name Aqa Muhammad 'Ali, who had passionately
begged to be allowed to share His martyrdom, He was led to the scaffold in
the old barrack square of Tabriz. About two hours before noon the two were
suspended by ropes under their armpits in such a way that the head of
Muhammad 'Ali rested against the breast of his beloved Master. A regiment
of Armenian soldiers was drawn up and received the order to fire. Promptly
the volleys rang out, but when the smoke cleared, it was found that the
Bab and His companion were still alive. The bullets had but severed the
ropes by which they were suspended, so that they dropped to the ground
unhurt. The Bab proceeded to a room nearby, where He was found talking to
one of His friends. About noon they were again suspended. The Armenians,
who considered the result of their volleys a miracle, were unwilling to
fire again, so another regiment of soldiers had been brought on the scene,
who fired when ordered. This time the volleys took effect. The bodies of
both victims were riddled by bullets and horribly mutilated, although
their faces were almost untouched.

By this foul deed the Barrack Square of Tabriz became a second Calvary.
The enemies of the Bab enjoyed a guilty thrill of triumph, thinking that
this hated tree of the Babi faith was now severed at the root, and its
complete eradication would be easy! But their triumph was short-lived!
They did not realize that the Tree of Truth cannot be felled by any
material ax. Had they but known,