The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-05-09
THE YEZIDIS.
BY A. II. LAYARD.
No I

1HC LII JSlShlCS VI tliS StCt nave UccIl
traced to the workship introduced by
Seimiramis into the very mountains they
inhabit-a workship which, impure in
its forms, led to every excess. The
quiet, cleanliness and orders of their
villages, do not warrant these charges.
Their known respect of fear for the evil
principal has given them the title of
Workshippers of the Devil. Some
years ago they were powerful tribe.
They recognize one Supreme Being,
but do not offer any thing direct prayer
or sacrifice to him, and appear to shun
with superstitious awe any topic con-
nected with the existence of attributes
of the Deity. The name Of the evil
spirit is never mentioned, and any allu.
sion to it by others so vexes and irlita-
tes them, that they have put persons to
death who have wantonly outraged their
feelings by its use. So far is their dread
of offending the evil one carried, that
they carefully avoid every expression
which may resemble in sound the name
of Satan, or the Arabic word for ac-
cursed. Whenever they speak of the
Devil they do so with reverence. They
believe Satan to be the chief of the an.
gclic host, now suffering punishment
for his rebellion against the disine will
but still all powerful, and to be res
tored hereafter to his high estate in the
celestial hierarcy. Christ according to
them, was also great angel who had
taken the form of man. Hc did not die
on the cross, but asccnded to heaven.
They hold the Old Testament in great
reverence, believe in the cosmogony of
Genesis, the deluge, and other events
recorded in the Bible. They do not
reject the New Testament nor the 10
ran, but consider them less entitled to
their consideration. Still they always
select passages from the Koran for their
tombs and holy places. Mahommcd
they lock upon as a Prophet, as they
do Abraham and the patriarchs. They
expect the second coming of Christ as
we'll as the rc-appearanco of Imaun
Mchli.
The origin Of the namc is traced to
the celebrated Ommiadc Caliph Yezid,
a great prosecutor of the family Of Ali
in their own religious history; but there
is reason to believe it must be sought
for elsewhere, as it was used long before
the introduction Of Mohammedanisln
and is not without connection with the
early Persian appcllation of the Su-
prcmc Being. 1t is difficult to trace
their ceremonies to any particular sour
&C. They babtizc in water, like the
Christians, if possible with seven days
after birth. They circumcise at the
same age and in the same manner as the
Mohammcdans, reverence the Sun and
have many customs in common with
the Sabcans. They have great rcvcr-
ence for the Sun and have built tcm-
pie and dedicated it to that luminary
They are accustomed to kiss the object
on which its first beams fall. For fire,
as symbolic, they have nearly the same
reverence.
They never spit it, but frequently
pass their hands through the flame, kiss,
them, and put them over their right
eyebrow, or over the whole face. The
colour, blue, to them is an abomination
and never to be worn in dress or to be
used in their houses. The place to
which they turn their eyes whilst per
forming their holy ceremonies is always
that part of the Heavens in which the
sun rises, and toward it they turn the
faces of their dead. Lettuce and Hi
bicus csculcntus, and some other veg
ctables, arc mover eaten by them; pork
is unlawful, but wine is drunk by all.
They have no religious obscrvanccs
on marriage, nor are the number of
wives limited The men and women
merely present themselves to Shcikh,
who ascertains that there is mutual con-
sent. A ringis then given to the bride
or sometimes money instcad--a day
is fixed for rcjoicing-thcy drink shcr-
bet, dance, but have no religious cere-
monies. Their year begins with that
of the Eastern Christians, whom they
follow also in the order and name Of
their months. Some fast three days
at the commencement of the year, but
that is not considered necessary. We'd
nesday is their holiday. Some fast on
that day, yet they do not abstain from
work on it as the Christian do on the
Sabbath. Their names, both male and
female, are generally those used by Mo.
hammcdans and Christians. The name