boat. From there he was sent on to Burdur in south-western Anatolia, his destination. [^21]

[^21]:Haydar Süphandağlı, in Son Şahitler, ii, 95-6.

Kinyas Kartal, who as a young man of twenty-five or so was sent into exile in the same group, related that when they were leaving Van, villagers, the rich, many people from the surrounding area collected together a considerable sum of money and gold in order to give to Bediuzzaman. But he would not even look at it. He would accept presents, charity, or money from no one. [^22] Among his own memories of the journey he tells also how "Seyda" did not sleep at night in their first stopping-place, spending it in prayer. After this he requested a room to himself, so as not to disturb the others. [^23] That Bediuzzaman received special treatment on the journey is attested to by the gendarme assigned to guard him, Mustafa Ağralı. He gives a detailed description of him, the caravan, and some of the villages in which they stayed. He said:

[^22]:Abdullah Ekinci, in Son Şahitler, i, 193.

[^23]:Kinyas Kartal, in Son Şahitler, ii, 17.

All the other sledges were loaded up with people and belongings, but there was nothing on Bediuzzaman's at all. He was all alone. He was being given special treatment. Wound round his head was a long, twisted turban of white printed muslin material. He had thick black moustaches, and no beard.

Mustafa Ağralı described also the hospitality they received from the Kurdish villagers in the places where they stopped for the night. He notes however that in the first place Bediuzzaman refused all offers of food pleading illness. And after spending the night in prayer and performing together with him the morning prayers, he got out a kettle from the small basket which contained his belongings, then proceeded to boil himself an egg on the stove. It was the first food he had eaten since leaving Van. [^24]

[^24]:Mustafa Ağralı, in Son Şahitler, i, 104-7.

Of the details given by Münir Bakan when the caravan stayed two or three days in his village of Koruçuk near Erzurum is the fact that there were officers assigned to write down whatever Bediuzzaman said. As he told Necmeddin Şahiner, "Of course, they weren't writing down these notes out of 'sincerity', but for 'capital'." One of the things he said to Münir Bakan was:

"Don't be afraid, my brother, these disasters that are being visited on us are temporary. Only there is one point you should take careful note of and