not only furious but stupefied. He wrote to the Prince who had been so ignominiously defeated:
I have charged you, with the mission of subduing a handful of young and contemptible students. I have placed at your disposal the army of the Sháh, and yet you have allowed it to suffer such a disgraceful defeat. 32_ACT9
At the order of the AmÍr-Kabír, reinforcements were now sent to the reassembling the army of the Prince. The reinforcements included regiments of infantry and cavalry led by the military commander of the province, ‘Abbás-Qulí Khán-i-Láríjání
, who was also the governor of Ámul. While the Prince had set up his base in Sárí
33_ACT9 which is not very close to Fort Tabarsí, ‘Abbás-Qulí Khán led his regiment right up to the fort itself. They set up a series of seven barricades around the fort. The heightened siege conditions had its effect on the fort, blocking all access to food and water.
1 February 1849: A well is dug and Mullá Husayn prepares for his final day
The heightened siege compelled the Bábís to dig a well in the fort, to at least get water. It was 1 February 1849 when the well digging was completed. That morning, Mullá Husayn said to his companions who had laboured so hard:
Today we shall have all the water we require for our bath. Cleansed of all earthly defilements, we shall seek the court of the Almighty and shall hasten to our eternal abode. Whoso is willing to partake of the cup of martyrdom, let him prepare himself and wait for the hour when he can seal with his life-blood his faith in his Cause. This night, ere the hour of dawn, let those who wish to join me be ready to issue forth from behind these walls and, scattering once again the dark forces which have beset our path, ascend untrammelled to the heights of glory. 34_ACT9
Nabíl recounts what happened next:
That same afternoon, Mullá Husayn performed his ablutions, clothed himself in new garments, attired his head with the Báb’s turban, and prepared for the approaching encounter. An undefinable joy illumined his face. He serenely alluded to the hour of his departure and continued to his last moments to animate the zeal of his companions. Alone with Quddús, who so
Table of Contents
