Some of the Governors of 'Akka were very kind to
'Abdu'l-Baha, but others listened more to His enemies than to His friends and
did very cruel things. For instance, some enemies of 'Abdu'l-Baha at one time
started a rumor that 'Abdu'l-Baha had left 'Akka and gone to Haifa. With the
help of His many friends, they said, He was building a strong fort on Mount Carmel.
Very soon, He would take over all of Palestine and Syria, and the Turkish
Government would be driven out.
It was true that 'Abdu'l-Baha had moved to the fresh air of
Haifa with His family, and it was true that He had many friends of all
nationalities, but the so-called fort He was building was really the sacred
Shrine of the Báb. The Governor, however, believed the stories the enemies
told, and 'Abdu'l-Baha's family was brought back to the prison-city of 'Akka
once again.
On one occasion an unfriendly Governor who hated the Baha'is
decided to take over their shops and leave them with no means of making a living.
So he gave orders to the police: "There are fifteen shops owned by Baha'is;
go tomorrow morning early, lock them up, and bring the keys to me."
