1859] Notes on KAfirlstdn. 355 



Several of the Kafir customs, and that just related, in particular, 

 hear a strong resemblance to those of the Yezidis or Devil Worship- 

 ers, mentioned by Morier in his "Travels." He says: — "The 

 Yezidis, or the worshipers of Satan, as they are frequently called, are 

 one of the numerous sects which were formed in Mesopotamia, among 

 the Musalmans, after the death of their prophet, and extended them- 

 selves more particularly among that ancient people, the Kurds. 



" By the true believers they are looked upon as accursed ; their name 

 is synonymous with blasphemers, barbarians, and men of blood. 

 Owing to the want of written records, it is very difficult to procure 

 any accurate information concerning them, as they preserve great 

 secrecy in matters of religion. The general report is, that the first 

 principle of the Yezidis is to ensure the friendship of the devil, and 

 to defend his interests by the sword. They never mention his name, 

 and even adopt all sorts of circumlocution rather than pronounce any 

 word or sound which expresses it. Whoever approaches their 

 habitation must be careful not to pronounce the word " Shaitan" and 

 "lahnat" — "devil" and "accursed," for fear of being ill-treated, or 

 even put to death. The evil spirit has no precise name in their 

 language. They designate him the Shekh Mazin, or the great chief. 

 They admit of the Prophets and the Saints revered by Christians, 

 and respect the monasteries bearing their names, situated within their 

 territories. 



" Without prayers, without fasts, without rites, they have no 

 religious festivals, except one on the 10th of August, when they 

 assemble in great numbers in the neighbourhood of Shekh Adi. At 

 that time many Yezidis come from the most distant points ; the 

 festival lasts all that day and the night following ; and during their 

 passage to the place of congregation, they do not scruple to rob and 

 plunder. Married women go in numbers to the surrounding villages, 

 and on that night it is said, after having eaten and drank their nil 

 (male and female together) the lights are extinguished, aud nothing 

 more is said until the morning." 



To return to the Kafirs — The day succeeding the Chilum Cliuti, 

 and the last of the festival, all the people assemble together, and 

 those who are desirous of making an inroad into the territories of their 

 Muhammadan neighbours, get up and stand on one side. On this, 



