The Journey to Constantinople

Bahíyyih Khánum, the Greatest Holy Leaf, recalled the journey from Baghdad in 1863:

The march to Constantinople occupied four months. Much of the weather was inclement and during many whole days we were without proper food. In our company were many small children, upon whom and the women the journey was very hard. On one occasion during a long and cold march, my brother having obtained some bread, rice, and milk, my father made up with his own hands a sort of pudding by boiling these together with a little sugar, which was then distributed to all. The preparation of this food was a reminiscence of my father's two-years' sojourn in the mountains, where he was dependent on what might be given him, and this dish - which he sometimes made for himself - was the only warm food he had. Such times as these were moments of pleasure; but there was always present a feeling of apprehension - as though a sword were hanging over our heads.

Arrived in Constantinople we found ourselves prisoners. We were put into a small house, the men below and the women above. My father and his family were given two rooms. The weather was very cold and damp, and we had no fires or proper clothing. Because of the crowding the atmosphere was foul. We petitioned for better quarters, and were given another house, which was to some extent an improvement.

Source: Myron H. Phelps, Life and Teachings of Abbas Effendi (1903), ch. III, pp. 32–33, recording the recollections of Bahíyyih Khánum.

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

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