Yezidis

an ancient sect of unknown origin, forming a tribe with a distinct nationality, in the neighbor hood of Mosul, in Asiatic Turkey. This obscure race appears to be a relic of the ancient Chaldaeans, and their religion seems to be a confused mixture of Gnostic Christianity, grafted upon the Chaldsean superstitions, including Magianism, and then adulterated with Moslemism. They are generally called devil-worshippers, but profess to take their name from Azad, the ancient name for God in the Yezidi dialect. "We are Yezidis," they say, "that is, worshippers of God." 'The following account is taken from Layard's Nineveh and its Remains (New York, 1849), 1:245 sq.:

"The Yezidis recognize one Supreme Being, but, as far as I could learn, they do not offer up any direct prayer or sacrifice to him. Sheik Nasr endeavored to evade my questions on this subject, and appeared to shun, with superstitious awe, every topic connected with the existence and attributes of the deity. The common Mohammedan forms of expression — half-oath, half-ejaculationare nevertheless frequently in the mouths of the people, but probably from mere habit. The name of the evil spirit is, however, never mentioned, and any allusion to it by others so vexes amid irritates them that, it is said, they have put to death persons who have want only outraged their feelings by its use.. So far is their dread of offending the evil principle carried that they carefully avoid every expression which may resemble in sound the name of Satan, or the Arabic word for 'accursed.'... When they speak of the devil they do so with reverence, as Melek Taus (king Peacock) or Melek el-Kut (the mighty angel). Sheik Nasr distinctly admitted that they possessed a bronze or copper figure of a bird, which, however, he was careful in explaining was only looked upon as a symbol, and not as an idol. It always remains with the great sheik, and is carried with him wherever he may journey.... This symbol is called Melek Tauis, and is held in great reverence.... They believe Satan to be the chief of the angelic host, now suffering punishment for his rebellion against the divine will, but still all-powerful, and to be restored hereafter to his high estate in the celestial hierarchy. He must be conciliated and reverenced, they say, for as he now has the means of doing evil to mankind, so will he hereafter have the power of rewarding them. Next to Satan, but inferior to him in might and wisdom, are seven archangels, who exercise a great influence over the world: they are Gabrail, Michail, Raphail, Azrail, Dedrail, Azrapheel, and Sheinkeel. Christ, according to them, was also a great angel, who had taken the form of a man. He did not die on the Cross, but ascended to heaven.

"They hold the Old Test. in great reverence, and believe in the cosmogony of Genesis, the Deluge, and other events in the Bible. They do not reject the New Test. nor the Koran, but consider them less entitled to their veneration. Still, they always select passages from the latter for their tombs and holy places. Mohammed they look upon as a prophet — as they do Abraham and the patriarchs. They expect the second coming of Christ, as well as the reappearance of Imaum Mehdi, giving credence to the Mussulman fables relating to him. Sheik Adi is their great saint....

"It is difficult to trace their ceremonies to any particular source. They baptize in water, like the Christians; if possible, within seven days after birth. They circumcise at the same age and in the same manner as the Mohammedans; and reverence the sun, and have many customs in common with the Sabreans.... They are accustomed to kiss the object on which its beams first fall; and I have frequently, when travelling in their company at sunrise, observed them perform this ceremony. For fire, as symbolic, they have nearly the same reverence: they never spit into it, but frequently pass their hands through the flames, kiss them, and rub them over their right eyebrow, or sometimes over the whole face. The color blue, to them, as to the Sabaeans, is an abomination, and never to be worn in dress, or to be used in their houses. Their Kubleh, or the place to which they look while performing their holy ceremonies, is that part of the heavens into which the sun rises, and towards it they turn the faces of their dead. In their fondness for white linen, in their cleanliness of habits, and in their frequent ablutions, they also resemble the Sabaeans....

"They have four orders of priesthood, the Pirs, the Sheiks, the Cawals, and the Fakirs; and what is very remarkable, and, I believe, unexampled in the East, these offices are hereditary, and descend to females, who, when enjoying them, are treated with the same respect and consideration as the men.

"The Pirs, or saints, are most reverenced after the great sheik, or religious head of the sect. They are believed. to have power, not only of interceding for the people, but of curing disease and insanity. They are expected to lead a life of great sanctity and honesty, and are yolked up to with great reverence...

"The Sheiks are next in rank. They are acquainted with the hymns, and are expected to know something of Arabic, the language in which the hymns are written. Their dress should be entirely white, except the skull-cap beneath their turbans, which is black. As servants of sheik And they are the guardians of his tomb, keep up the holy fires, and bring provisions and fuel to those who dwell within its precincts, and to pilgrims of distinction....

"The Cawals, or preachers, appear to be the most active members of the priesthood. They are sent by sheik Nasr on missions, going from village to village as teachers of the doctrines of the sect. They alone are the performers on the flute and tambourine, both instruments being looked upon, to a certain extent, as sacred....

"The Fakirs are the lowest in the priesthood. They wear coarse dresses of black or dark-brown cloth or canvass, descending to the knee and fitting tightly to the person, and a black turban, across or over which is tied a red handkerchief. They perform all menial offices connected with the tomb, trim and light the votive lamps, and keep clean the sacred buildings." For many interesting particulars concerning this strange sect, see Layard, Nineveh and its Remains, volume 1, chapter 9; Nineveh and Babylon, page 92; Badger, Nestorians and their Ritual, 1:105-134.