James Justinian Morier

“ Chapter LIX — Hajji Baba does not shine in honesty—The life and adventures of the mollah Nadân I put on an air of consequence suited to the fine horse which I bestrode as soon as I reached Seidabad (for that was the name of the village) , and rode through its gates with such a look of authority that the peasants who saw me did not fail to make very low inclinations of the head. ”

“ As we sat communicating to each other in the full confidence of our hearts (for the miserable are ever greatly relieved by talking of themselves) , I discovered that never before had I acquired an insight into the real character of my associate. ”

“ We demand that he be delivered over to us."
'The governor was perplexed how to act; for he knew how dangerous it was to interfere in matters in which the subjects of Europe were concerned; and he was far from seconding our disposition to violence.
'"Why invite the dervish to an argument," said he, "if you will not hear what he has to say? If you have no arguments to oppose to his, violence only makes your cause worse, and you do more harm than good to our religion. ”

“ Under different pretexts, convents of his dervishes were established, some in Ispahan itself, and some in Julfa among the Armenians. Most of these have been abandoned, and the buildings fallen into decay; but one whose object more particularly was the propagation of the Christian faith still existed, and to its destruction my endeavours and those of some of our most zealous mollahs were directed, notwithstanding the opposite views of the government, who are anxious to encourage the Christians to settle in Persia, owing to the riches which they introduce by their trade. ”

“ He threw his own cloak over the infidel's shoulders, and just as violent hands were about to be laid upon him, he pushed vigorously through the crowd, and succeeded in reaching the house of an Armenian in safety.
'We, the mollahs, being disappointed of our prey, proceeded in a body to the house of the governor of the city, followed by an immense crowd of the people. A great fermentation had been excited, and we promoted it all in our power. ”

“ The Turk, however, was revenged, and we were set free.
'This adventure cooled my zeal for many years; although, in the pursuit of the distinctions which my father sought, I continued to addict myself to controversy. When about twenty-five years old, and my beard had acquired a respectable consistency, I went to Ispahan in order to improve myself by associating with our celebrated doctors, and to make my own abilities known by the part which I might take in their disputations. I succeeded to the utmost of my wishes, and acquired considerable reputation. ”