# Peeps Into Persia *Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.* --- > Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Dorothy de Warzee, Peeps Into Persia, bahai-library.com. > ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── > > Peeps into Persia > > BY > > DOROTHY DE WARZEE > (Baroness d Hermalle) > > With 51 lilustrations from Photographs > > LONDON: > HURST AND BLACKETT, LIMITED > PATERNOSTER HOUSE, E.G. > 1913 > DEDICATED > TO THE READER > —— > > CONTENTS > CHAP. page > I. The Journey from Baku I > > II. First Impressions of Teheran 25 > Street Scenes > .... > III. 37 > IV. ^The Bazaar 48 > V. ^The Women of the Anderoun 59 > VI. Religious Festivals 76 > VII. Gardens of Delight 89 > VIII. Social Life in Teheran . 106 > IX. Animal Life and Sport . 129 > X. ^The Civil Service and the Army 146 > XI. Education and Medicine 164 > XII. ^The Arts in Persia 177 > XIII. ^Superstitions 200 > XIV. Islam and the Churches . 211 > XV. —A Sketch of Recent Events in Persia 224 > Index 239 > ISLAM AND THE CHURCHES > his name. A pilgrimage is no easy matter to > > undertake ; it means, as a rule, a lot of expense > and great fatigue. It is usually arranged by > a special person who makes this his pro- > fession. Each person pays as much as he can > afford, and the professional agent arranges every- > thing —mules, tents and food. The pilgrimage > usually starts in the spring, in order to allow the > > people to reach their homes in the late autumn > and to avoid travelling in the winter months. > The time spent in the holy cities is quite short in > comparison with the time taken to reach them. > Most of the principal cities regarded as sacred > > are in Arabia, but those most frequented in Persia > are Meshed and Koum. But with the Shiah, > > as with the orthodox Sunni, the greatest > > pilgrimage of all is to the tomb of the Prophet > himself at Mecca, and this alone confers upon the > pilgrim the title Hadji. > Although the Shia are more severe than the > Sunni about non-Mohammedans they are more > ready to accept innovations. There are some > who make of Ali, Mohammed's son-in-law, a god, > and these are known as the Ali-AUahis. Then, > again, there are several sects of Dervishes who > get their inspiration from Suffiism —that is to say > PEEPS INTO PERSIA > > they aim, or are supposed to aim, only at the > higher life, and take no interest in earthly things. > In 1844 a prophet arose who, in spite of his > > youth —he was barely twenty-five —found many > disciples even among the older and more serious- > minded men of all classes. This was Ali > Muhammed, better known as the " Bab." The > word Bab means door or gate, and he pro- > claimed himself as the door to knowledge of > > a better life. Unhappily he was the cause of a > > great deal of trouble ; his followers were perse- > cuted, and on several occasions many were > massacred in cold blood. He himself was arrested, > and, finally, after having been treated as cruelly > > as possible, he was shot at Tabriz in 1855. He > nearly escaped, as the first volley fired at him only > loosed his bonds ; had he kept his presence of > mind he could have fled in the direction of the > bazaar. There he would have been safe, and his > cause would have been strengthened by what > would have been regarded as a miracle. But he > was weakened by imprisonment and ill-treatment, > and he fled towards the citadel, where he was > immediately captured and killed. After his death > there followed a discussion among his disciples > > as to his successor. Some said the Bab had > ISLAM AND THE CHURCHES > designated to succeed him a certain Mirza Yahya, > who, having lost his mother at an early age, had > been brought up by the mother of the chief > follower of the Bab. He had, however, a half- > > brother, who also claimed the succession, and > rivalry broke out between their respective > followers. This half-brother of Mirza Yahya is > > known as the Behai'ullah, and his disciples in > > Teheran are many. When he died he was suc- > ceeded by his son Abdul Bahai, who lived until > > 191 1 at Acre, when he went on tour in Egypt, > Europe and America. The Bahais claim to have > nine million followers, of whom a considerable > number are in America. The Bahais can conform > to other religions and believe chiefly in a pro- > gression of ideas ; as new ideas come, as new > things are invented or discovered, a new prophet > is needed who should not contradict former > prophets, but should improve on their sayings > > and doings. women needed to > For instance, > > be kept in seclusion before men became properly > civilized now that men have made progress it is > ; > > time to think about the women. > The Bahais count Behai'ullah as greater than > the Bab, who was merely his forerunner, as John > the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ. > PEEPS INTO PERSIA > > When Nasr-ed-Din Shah was murdered in 1896 > the act was put down to the Babis, and a terrible > persecution began against that sect, which reached > its height in 1902. At one time the councillors of > the Shah conceived the horrible idea of giving > any Babi they captured to a great personage, > when His Majesty would be able to judge of their > fidelity and loyalty to him by the tortures they > would cause to be inflicted on their prisoners. > > One can imagine the horrors that took place, the > tortures that were inflicted. But even this did > not suppress Babism. I was talking to a Persian > the other day, and he told me that lately the > Babis had suffered much less persecution, and > since this was the case the sect was dying out > rapidly. I do not know, however, if this is > > really so. > > One of the Bab's great ideas was to place women > on a different footing, to give them a place in > the world, and to raise them to a higher place > in the regard of the men. He strongly con- > demned polygamy and divorce, and recommended > his followers to be kind to their women and > children. He has naturally many followers among > the fair sex. > > INDEX > Abbas, Sham, 138, 183, 2jo. Banks, 160, 161. > Aftab, or Sun, The Order of the, 1 16. Barbers, Persian, 37. > Ahmed Mirza, Shah, his levee, 112 Barbod, 179. > et seqq. ; hi» dress, 113; as a Barferush, 230. > sportsman, 143 ; ascends the throne Basil, Dr., 173. > > of Persia, 228. Bath, The Persian, 38. > Ain-ed-Dowleh, Grand Vizier, 224. Baiaar, The, at Resht, 12; at > Ali, Mohammed's son-in-law, 214, 215. Teheran, 48 et seqq. > All, Mohamed, Shah, 227, 230. Beggars, 27, 40-42. > Ali Muhammed (The Bab), 216-218. Behai'ullah, 217. > American High School, 166. Belgian Legation, 126. > American Mission, The, 165 ; Church, Belgian Custom House, Enzeli, 9. > 220. Birds, 132. > Animal life in Persia, 129. Biroun, The, 60. > Anderoun, The, 60 et seqq., 165. Borchgrave, M. de (Belgian Minister), > Arabic language. The, 187. 26. > Arbab Jemshid, 99. Bride, A Persian, 73. > Armenians, 222, 223. British Legation, 124-126, 172, 224, > Army, The Persian, 161-163. 225, 227, 232. > Arshed, Sadar, 230. > " Avesta," 189. Caldeens, The, 220. > Aaad-el-Mulk, 229. Calendars, Persian, 202-205. > Camels, caravans of, 20 ; sacrifice of, > > Bab, The, see Ali Muhammf.d. 85 ; habits of, 129. > Bahadur, Sadar, 230, 231. Carpets, Persian, 32-36. > Bahai, Abdul, 217. Caspian Sea, The, 1-5, 176. > Baku, 2-4, 9. Cemetery, A Persian, 57, 58. > Bala-Bala, 17, 19. Charms, 54. > > — *Peeps Into Persia (Used by permission of the curator)*