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The Devil is also a triune being, the three immediate oppo- 
nents of Ali being taken as representatives of his avatars. 
Their esoteric doctrine teaches that these personages only 
typify the heavenly bodies: thus Ali is the sky, Mohammed 
the sun, and Selman el Farsi the moon, while the five monads 
represent the planets known to the ancients, and their functions 
exactly correspond with those of the heathen gods whose names 
the planets bear. 
The Nuseiriyeh believe in the transmigration of souls; they 
were originally stars, but fell through disbelief; those therefore 
who act well in this life will be restored to their celestial rank, 
while the bad will pass through successive stages of degradation 
in a future life. 
Amongst other curious observances, they commence their 
prayers by the distribution of branches of olive or fragrant 
herbs to all the congregation, who on the repetition of a certain 
prayer place them solemnly to their noses. This is undoubtedly 
the rite mentioned by Ezekiel as appertaining to Syrian sun- 
worship: “Is it a light thing that they commit the abomina- 
tions which they commit here? For they have filled the land 
with violence and have returned to provoke me to anger; and, 
lo, they put the branch to their nose.’ Hzek. viii. 17. 
They also make use of libations of wine, considering this as 
a symbol of the sun from its brightness and revivifying effects. 
Our own social practice of “passing the bottle the way the sun 
goes round,” is a relic of the same Pagan superstition. 
The Nuseiriyeh number about 5000 in Syria, and inhabit 
principally the districts around Laodicea and the mountains 
north of Aleppo. 
The author then gave a slight sketch of the Saban creed, 
and concluded by repeating his belief that the principles of 
what may be termed astronomical worship lie at the root of all 
Pagan systems; and that in the tenets and philosophies of 
these Eastern sects will be found much that will assist in the 
