In the next chapter we shall see a little of another religious sect, which is fast becoming a power in Persia. CHAPTER X OTHER RELIGIOUS SECTS Other religious sects--The Bab and Babism--Short sketch of life of the Bab--His imprisonment and execution--Parsees, or Zoroastrians--Persecutions of Parsees in seventh century--Sacred writings of Parsees, Zendavesta--Fire-worshipping--Fire temples--Holy fire--Parsee wedding--Costume of women--Death customs--Burial customs. "How many crimes have in religion's name been wrought." Lucretius. "Too oft religion has the mother been Of impious act and criminal." Lucretius. The founder of Babism was a native of Shiraz, by name Mirza Ali Muhammed, born in 1820; it was not till 1844 that he publicly proclaimed himself to be The Bab or Gate, through which all who wished for peace and happiness might pass into the inner chambers of mysticism and sacred mysteries. He soon gathered a large following around him, and in an astonishingly short time the fame of the Bab was noised abroad throughout the length and breadth of Persia. At first the Government and mullahs paid little attention to this new religion, thinking and believing it to be only a passing fancy of the people, but in its second year it took such rapid strides that they began to be alarmed, and to look about for means of checking its progress. The Bab was placed in prison, and his followers were forbidden, on pain of death, to teach or discuss their new religion. Soon afterwards, however, the Bab escaped, and fled to Isphahan, where the governor of that city protected him for some months, but on the death of the governor the Bab was again cast into prison. During his imprisonment he was not idle, for he wrote many books, setting forth his doctrines, and exhorting his followers to remain firm to their new faith in the face of all opposition and persecution. While the Bab was busy in prison, his followers were also busy, preaching and teaching, and by all means trying to extend the doctrines of their leader, and so great was the opposition and strife raised that the Government decided that the Bab must forfeit his life as a means of putting a stop once and for all to this new and dangerous sect. Accordingly the Bab was brought from Tabriz, where he had been imprisoned, and after a mock trial was sentenced to death. On the day appointed for his execution an enormous crowd gathered to witness his end--many from curiosity, and also many from love and pity for the youthful martyr, who to the last maintained the calmness and courage which had characterised his whole term of imprisonment.