The Journey from Adrianople to Gallipoli

We were told that we had three days to prepare for the journey to ‘Akká. Then we learnt that we were all to be separated. Bahá’u’lláh to one place, the Master to another, and the friends to still another place. I well remember, as though it were only yesterday, the fresh misery into which we were plunged; to be separated from our Beloved; and He, what new grief was in store for Him? He accepted all vicissitudes with His calm, beautiful smile, cheering us with wonderful words.

During our sojourn in Adrianople, Bahá’u’lláh's custom was to walk only in the garden of the house, which was also His prison. Here the friends crowded, weeping and wailing, refusing to be comforted. They determined to resist the separation; great was the tumult. Many telegrams were sent to the Government at Constantinople. At length we all started together on the journey to Gallipoli, and in three days we arrived, having travelled in carts and wagons.

Here the Governor announced that he had received orders for our separation. He came to see Bahá’u’lláh and the Master, and becoming friendly, he tried to help us in our distress. Again many telegrams were sent to Constantinople; we stayed for a week waiting for the replies.

At last permission was given for us all to embark together in a Turkish boat. In this small boat we, seventy-two persons, were crowded together in unspeakable conditions, for eleven days of horror. Then soldiers and two officers were our escort. There was an appalling smell in the boat, and most of us were very ill indeed.

Source: Lady Blomfield, The Chosen Highway, from the recollections of Bahíyyih Khánum, the Greatest Holy Leaf.

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

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