From Gallipoli to Alexandria

Bahíyyih Khánum, the daughter of Bahá’u’lláh, recalled the exiles’ departure from Gallipoli in 1868:

At Gallipoli the German, Russian, and English Consuls called upon the Blessed Perfection and offered to intercede in His behalf with the Turkish government, assuring Him that they could procure, for Him and His family, permission to go to one of the countries of Western Europe, where they would have no further trouble. My father replied that He did not wish to oppose the will of the Sultan, nor would He consent to abandon His followers; that His only interests were in spiritual things and His only desire to preach a religion, and that therefore He had nothing to fear.

The order from Constantinople directed that we should embark together upon a government vessel, and no time was lost in putting it into execution. In the hurry, distress, and uncertainty of the moment, we neglected to provide food for the voyage, but to one old servant, on his way to the ship, the thought occurred that he had not seen any provisions prepared, and he bought a box of bread. This, with the ship's prisoners' rations, which were almost inedible, was the only food we had for five days, when we reached Alexandria. Here the rumour that we were to be separated was renewed; and all were so terrified by it that no one was willing to leave the ship to buy provisions lest he be prevented from returning. We were able to procure only some grapes and mineral water. The little bread we had was now spoiled; and, what with hunger, fright, and grief, we were almost bereft of reason. On one of our company, indeed, these conditions had so preyed as to unbalance his mind, and he threw himself from the ship as we were leaving the harbour of Alexandria. The ships' officers were, however, fortunately able to bring her to in time to reach this man before he sank, and he was brought on board and revived.

Source: Bahíyyih Khánum’s account in Myron H. Phelps, Life and Teachings of Abbas Effendi (1904), pp. 53–54.

Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: bahaullah-exile).

Various. *bahaistories.com archive*. https://bahaistories.com/subject/bahaullah-exile