464 
ability to explain and confute the 
doctrines of the Sooffees, after 
enumerating the seven that are 
supposed to be original, states 
his opinion, that there are but 
two entitled to that distinction. 
These are called the Hulooleah, 
or ‘the inspired,” and the Ita- 
hedeah, or “ the unionists.” He 
deems the other five sects, which 
have been considered by many 
as original, to be only branches 
from these two. ‘The principle 
maintained by the Hulooledh, or 
“¢ the inspired,’”’ is, that God has 
entered or descended into them; 
and that the Divine Spirit enters 
into all who are devout, and have 
an intelligent mind. The Ithde- 
deah, or ‘ unionists,’’ believe 
that God is as one with every 
enlightened being. They com- 
pare the Almighty to flame, and 
their souls to charcoal; and say, 
that in the same manner that 
charcoal when it meets fame 
becomes flame, their immortal 
part, from its union with God, 
becomes God. It has, the learned 
author here followed states, been 
affirmed, that these two sects, 
which are now deemed original, 
are derived from a sect called 
Hermaneah, who borrowed their 
tenets from the Sabettedh, or 
“ancient Sabians.” <« Impious 
men,” he observes, ‘ desirous to 
conceal from themselves the great 
error, into which they had fallen, 
have tried to connect the doc- 
trines of these sects with that of 
the twelve holy Imaums, to which 
they have not the slightest affi- 
nity: but,’? he adds, “ the prin- 
cipal tenets of the Hulooledh cer- 
tainly approach the creed of the 
Nazarenes, who believe that the 
Spirit of God entered into the 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1815: 
womb of the Virgin Mary, and 
thence the doctrine of the divine 
nature of their prophet, Jesus.” 
CHARACTER OF THE PERSIANS. 
’ 
(From the Same.) 
Thereisaconsiderabledifference 
of character among the inhabitants 
of the various cities and towns of 
Persia, which originates in the 
opposite feelings and habits which 
they have derived from their an- 
cestors. Thenatives of Kazveen, 
Tabreez, Hamadan, Shiraz, and 
Yezd, are as remarkable for their 
courage, as those of Koom, Ka- 
shan, and Isfahan, are for their 
cowardice. Theformer are chiefly 
descended from martial tribes ; 
while the forefathers of the latter 
have, for many centuries, pur- 
sued civil occupations. But,though 
some of the citizens of Persia are 
less warlike than others, the dif- 
ferent shades of character which 
this occasions are not of so much 
consequence as to prevent their 
being included in a general de- 
scription. The whole of this com- 
munity may be deemed, as far as 
regards their personal appearance, 
a fine race of men: they are not 
tall; but it is rare to see any of 
them diminutive or deformed, and 
they are in general strong and 
active. Their complexions vary 
from a dark olive to a fairness 
which approaches that of a nor- 
thern European : and if they have 
not all the bloom of the latter, 
their florid healthy look often gives 
them no inconsiderable share of 
beauty. As a people, they may 
be praised for their quickness of 
apprehension, their vivacity, and 
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