THE YEZIDEES, OR DEVIL-WORSHIPERS. 



479 



sTiat (the Tigris), shed (to bind), nul (horseshoe), and led (a ruby). 

 Whoever speaks one of these words is guilty of the most heinous 

 blasphemy and deserves to die, and his soul shall be embodied in 

 a mangy dog or a beast of burden. Therefore God forbids the 

 reading of books, because such words are contained in them. 

 Neither the Bible nor the Koran originally had these blasphe- 

 mous passages, but they were added by evil-doers. It is also a 

 great sin to eat salad, because its name (in Arabic) sounds like 

 one of the titles of our saints." 



The priestly order is hereditary, in the lines ordained by God, 

 and includes, after the Myr, or high-priest, the Apiars, who reside 

 at Sheik Adi, and dispose of their blessings for good money ; the 

 Meshaich, who, without having any particular ecclesiastical func- 

 tions, pray for the healing of diseases and break the bread at mar- 

 riage ceremonies ; the Kovechek, who dance at the festivals and on 

 other occasions ; the Kavalin, who constitute the guard of honor 

 to the seven holy images, make music, and attend to the collec- 

 tions ; and the Fakirs, who are organized as begging-monks, and 

 live wholly on alms. All these priests wear their beard and hair 

 uncut, and can marry only within their class. 



The Sanjak, or Holy Standard of the Yezidees, is asserted to 

 have come down from King Solomon, haviiig passed from him to 

 the kings of their nation, and having been committed by Yezid to 

 the Kavalin to care for. As among them, it is consigned to the 

 one who will bid highest for the privileges and blessings attendant 

 upon having it in possession. On stated occasions the Sanjak is 

 carried around and exhibited to the people. The priest dips the 

 standard into the holy water, and, taking some of the consecrated 

 earth of Sheik Adi, makes of it pills as large as a hazel-nut, which 

 he keeps as blessed gifts for the faithful. Whoever swallows one 

 of these pills will be kept by the grace of Melek-Taus sound in 

 mind and body for a whole year. The standard, preceded by a 

 herald to announce its coming, is taken to the villages as they are 

 designated by the Myr. The privilege of entertaining it having 

 been sold at auction, the successful bidder makes a feast in its 

 honor, which is attended by the priests in their order, and by 

 the people, and, finally, the women and children. Offerings are 

 brought and laid down, and at sunset all the faithful march seven 

 times around the standard in honor of the seven gods, beating 

 their breasts and asking pardon for their sins. When all the vil- 

 lages in the circuit have been visited, the standard and the col- 

 lected offerings are brought to the temple. 



Sheik Adi is the true Jerusalem, or center of the faith. At 

 the beginning of the autumn the Myr and the Meshaich meet 

 there in a cave and inquire of Melek, who appears to them, 

 whether a festival will be agreeable to him. If the answer is 



