The only known record of the Báb’s having been seen by a
European belongs to the period of His persecution when an English physician
resident in Tabríz, Dr. Cormick, was called in by the Persian authorities to
pronounce on the Báb’s mental condition. The doctor’s letter, addressed to a
fellow practitioner in an American mission in Persia, is given in Professor E.
G. Browne’s “Materials for the Study of the Bábí Religion.” “You ask me,”
writes the doctor, “for some particulars of my interview with the founder of
the sect known as Bábís. Nothing of any importance transpired in this
interview, as the Báb was aware of my having been sent with two other Persian
doctors to see whether he was of sane mind or merely a madman, to decide the
question whether he was to be put to death or not. With this knowledge he was
loth to answer any questions put to him. To all enquiries he merely regarded us
with a mild look, chanting in a low melodious voice some hymns, I suppose. Two
other siyyids, his intimate friends, were also present, who subsequently were
put to death with him, besides a couple of government officials. He only
deigned to answer me, on my saying that I was not a Musulman and was willing to
know something about his religion, as I might perhaps be inclined to adopt it.
He regarded me very intently on my saying this, and replied that he had no
doubt of all Europeans coming over to his religion. Our report to the Sháh at
that time was of a nature to spare his life. He was put to death some time
after by the order of the Amír-Nizám, Mírzá Taqí Khán. On our report he merely
got the bastinado, in which operation a farrásh, whether intentionally or not,
struck him across the face with the stick destined for his feet, which produced
a great wound and swelling of the face. On being asked whether a Persian
surgeon should be brought to treat him, he expressed a desire that I should be
sent for, and I accordingly treated him for a few days, but in the interviews
consequent on this I could never get him to have a confidential chat with me,
as some government people were always present, he being a prisoner. He was a
very mild and delicate-looking man, rather small in stature and very fair for a
Persian, with a melodious soft voice, which struck me much. Being a Siyyid, he
was dressed in the habit of that sect, as were also his two companions. In fact
his whole look and deportment went far to dispose one in his favour. Of his
doctrine I heard nothing from his own lips, although the idea was that there
existed in his religion a certain approach to Christianity. He was seen by some
Armenian carpenters, who were sent to make some repairs in his prison, reading
the Bible, and he took no pains to conceal it, but on the contrary told them of
it. Most assuredly the Musulman fanaticism does not exist in his religion, as
applied to Christians, nor is there that restraint of females that now exists.”
Such was the impression made by the Báb upon a cultivated
Englishman. And as far as the influence of His character and teaching have
since spread through the West, no other record is extant of His having been
observed or seen by European eyes.
- Shoghi Effendi (‘Introduction to ‘The
Dawn-Breakers’)
