Seldom have I seen one whose appearance impressed me more. A
tall strongly-built man holding himself straight as an arrow, with white turban
and raiment, long black locks reaching almost to the shoulder, broad powerful
forehead indicating a strong intellect combined with an unswerving will, eyes
keen as a hawk's, and strongly-marked but pleasing features -- such was my
first impression of 'Abbas Efendi, 'the master' (Aka) [Aqa] as he par excellence
is called by the Bábís. Subsequent conversation with him served only to
heighten the respect with which his appearance had from the first inspired me.
One more eloquent of speech, more ready of argument, more apt of illustration,
more intimately acquainted with the sacred books of the Jews, the Christians,
and the Muhammadans, could, I should think, scarcely be found even amongst the
eloquent, ready, and subtle race to which he belongs. These qualities, combined
with a bearing at once majestic and genial, made me cease to wonder at the
influence and esteem which he enjoyed even beyond the circle of his father's
followers. About the greatness of this man and his power no one who had seen him
could entertain a doubt.
- E.G. Browne (Quoted by Hand of the Cause
Balyuzi in ‘E.G. Browne and the Baha’i Faith’)
