The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-06

Mr.. Layard in his recently published work on the
Antiquities of Ninevah, gives very interesting ac-
count Of strange people, who have been little
tied Mesopotamia and the neghboring countries,
time out Of mind. These are the Yesidis or Wor-
shippers Of tho Devil. We extract the following &C.
count from the last number Of the London Quarter
The third expedition Of Mr. Layard led him among
still more remarkable people, perhaps In their or-
gin not only much older than tho HISTORIAN form OF
Christianity but even than Christianity itself. He
is admitted into the rites, almost into the Utmost
sanctuary, Of their singular race. who bear the Ill
onened name Of Devil Worshippers He y the first
European, we believe, who has received almost un-
reserved communication as to the nature OF their
tenets though probably from the Ignorance Of the
Yezidis themselves he has by no means solved the
problem either Of the date or the primal ssurce o.
their curious docrines. HOW ex.ao.anary 'ne W,
ligious belief Here tribes prescribed for centu-
res almost perhaps for thousands of years, under
the name most odious TO all other religious creeds-
hated and prosecuted by the Christians, as not
guilty of on older and more wicked belief at east in
fected by the most deiested heresy,. Manichism,
trampled upon, hunted down. driven from. place TO
place by the Musselnen, being Of those idoators,
itself justiies or commands implacable enmity.
Against the Yezids, even In the present day, the
Moslem rulers most rcligionsly fulfil the precepts Of
their scrptnremakng rasas among them mas
pecially the female children, INTO their harems That
fanatic persecution which accidental circumstances
suddenly and fatally kindled against the Chhl lean
mind, Of the Yezidis. Towards the Christians the
Koran contained more mercifn texts--towards the
Devil WOrshippers none.
Yet here are they subslsting In the nineteenth
century-fourishne tribes, industrious tribes, clearly
beyond most Aslatics-not found In one district
alone but scattered over wide circuit (somo have
lately taken refuge from Mohammedan prosecutions
under the Russian government In Georgia. celebra,
ting publicly their religious rteswith their sacred
places and sacred Understand with the unviollted
iombs Of their shcikhs, their groves and their
temples. The manners Of these tribes nrs full
Of the frank, courteous, hospitable freedom OF
and at least not more given In their best days 10
marauding habits than their neighbors. and only
goaded TO them by the most cruel and unprov oked
persecution. Their morals, as far as transpires
In Mr.. Layard's Trustworthy account, ara much
above those Of the tribes around them--fhey
are grateful for kindness, and by no means, at
least us far as Mr.. Layards experienced and we may
add some earlier travellers, jeulousy uncommnnica-
tive with Franks. @
II Is this strange and awful reverence for the Evil
Principle which Is the peculiar tenet 10 ne Greco
and has given Its odious name 70 this ancient ana
singular people. With them and old Lear ALONG lne
Prince Of Darkness 10 Gentlemsn.n They VIII not
endure the profane use Of any word that SOUNDS ke
SOME slight touch Of which might perhaps not be
becoming In the followers Of more true and molly
fsithto the Arabic words for cnrss and aeenrssd
satan IN iheir theory which approaches that Of ORR
zen i, The chief Of the angelic host, now suffering
punishment for rebellion against tho divine will.
but to be hereafter admitted 70 pardon and restored
"a his nigh estate. He is called Msek Tans, King
Peacock or Nslek 81 Kout, the mighty angel. The
Peacock, according 70 one acrount, 10 the symbol
az well a. the sppelative OF this insfahlo beng-no
uniting emblem Of pride. They reverence the Old
Testament almost with Jewish zeal, tenet abso-
Iutciy Inconsistent with Manfhsism; they rcceive,
but with less reverence, the Gospel and the Koran.
Thsir notion Of our ssyiopfSh the Mohammedan
except that he was an an angs, pc5p prophst-N
arb, NJ J., Advertiser.