If one travel in the central desert of Asia, he will observe
how many cities as great and populous as Paris or London have been ruined. From
the Caspian Sea to the River Oxus naught is to be seen save forlorn and
deserted prairies and deserts. The Russian railway (the Trans-Caspian R. R.)
takes two days and two nights to traverse the ruined cities and destroyed
villages of that desert. There was a time when that land was very populous and
in the highest state of civilization and development; science and knowledge
were wide spread, the arts and professions established, commerce and
agriculture were in the utmost state of perfection, and civil government and
politics well organized.
Now, all this great region is the habitation of desolation
and shelters only the' nomadic Turkoman tribes and the wandering beasts of
prey. The cities of that land, as Gorgan, Tassa, Abiavard and Shahrastan, were
once famous in the world for sciences, knowledge, professions, wonders, wealth,
greatness, happiness and virtue. Now, no voice or murmur is to be heard in all
that land save the roar of ferocious brutes, and naught to be seen save the
wandering wolves.
This ruin and destruction was occasioned by the battles and
murders of the wars between Iran (Persia) and Turkan…
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a
Tablet; ‘Star of the West, vol. 6, no. 9, August 20, 1915)