New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-26
ASIA MINOR.
visit 10 the shrine Of the Devil Worship
pers, &c.

Il EXCURSION 70 the western base OF the KURDISH
mountains. A recent fit of illness rendered fur
Their recreation absolutely necessary, and at the
invitation of the political head of the Yezedees
and the English Consul here, We started on the
Journey TO witness the novelties OF the great
/ festival of the DeviI-worshipers at Sheikh Adj
the shrine OF their divinity. Recent travellers
have been disposed to consider the old charge
against the Yezedees as calumniOus; and
was anxious on many accounts TO satisfy myself
of the truth or falsity of the common opinion
II was thought that al excursion 10 the place of
brooks and shrubbery would be of service to the
ladies' and our little one who had been shut up
all summer within the high brown walls of the
city, while the mercury ranged from ninety to
hundred and fifteen degrees and for three
months, night or day. had not been az low as
seyenty-fye The expediency Of trying TO spend
our summers in MOsGl is not fully tested. but
the agreeableness Of taking trip TO the noun
tsins is at least not to be questioned.
We started about daybreak and passed out
Of the palace gate, the only one opened before
sunrise, and forced our way across the bridge
Of boats, through crowds Of dirty men and ami
mails, reaching the aluyial plain between the
Tigris and the old walls Of Nineveh Just as the
sun was throwing up his yellow beams behind
the mound of KOyunjk. We enjoyed the cool
air, 10 grateful after the intense heat Of sum-
mer, as we'll as the sight OF the gardens along
the shores Of the river and on the islets in il,
covered with vines and herbage-the confused
hum Of myriads Of birds-the Sdtadms of the
villagers, bringing their sacks of wheat grapes,
raisns and fuel to the city. These cOuntrymen
always 90 armed and in companies, for fear Of
the plunderhg bands which sometimes venture
even under the walls of the city-their feet
stecds enabling them to 1" snatch and run" equal
10 the Germsnic hordes of Tacitus Kos Mel
tiel led the van, his portly form, long gown and
heavy turban well beftting the Office OF leader
SalOme, Mrs. w. and l.. followed, while the
servants with the babies, cucumbers and melons
brought up the rear The bedding and chests
we're far behind in charge of the fiery-faced
muletcers. My spirited horse became calm
after several circuits over the fenceless plain
and after ride at carayan-ga gait of three hours
we arrived at Tel Keif one OF the largest vii
lagos OF the whole valley. Ii stands in circu-
lar depression, and has its full compliment of
wolfish dogs, which kept up ali incessant bark
ing till we left the place The population are
all Chaldeans or Papal HISTORIANS, and are not
likely from all appearances 10 become greatly
civilized and enlightened for some ages under
their present protectors and teachers. Last
winter the Bibles distributed there were seized
b, them and either burned or secreted. We
u
house of one of our friends, before which man
was cracking wheat for bourgom. The machine
was similar in appearance and worked much in
the same manner as some of the linseed oil
millsin America. This bOurgOm forms the prin-
cipa part of the food of the peasantry of these
regions. Piav preparation OF rice, is subsu-
tuted in some parts of the country. Wheat Ia
very cheap throughout Mes0pOtamia, and the
crops in the region extending from MOs0l to
Baehdad are immense. The price of it some
times does not exceed fifteen cents per bushel.
The apartment in which We breakfasted on
grapes and iobben placed upon sheets of bread
hin as waters and about halt yard In diameter
answering the treble purpose OF food, table
cloth and napkin, was as dlngy rs smoke could
make il, and was illuminated only by means of
the omen door This was crowded with specta-
tors some of whom were waiting for medicines
20 cure their fevers and rheumatic aches. The
most of them had diseases OF the eyes and beg
Red for siehr france, Frank sugar or dcetas
plumb As / was going TO visit two or three
patients in their stable houses, the Consul, MT
Rassam, and his lady rode up TO the house OF the
Kiayeh, or head of the village, aud dismounted
TO take breakfast with the dirty dignltary
We started again after an hours delay the
people gazing at us from the roofs, and the dogs
barking their usual saiaam. rode up TO the
no trace of anything indicating very great an
tiquity Bafucoa soon appeared on our left, and
Jebd Makioub rose high on our right beyond
the remains of khorSabad. An hours ride
brought us TO Mar 1RrdhG, the ruined convent
Of n modern Abraham Near by was woman
shaping bricks from the mud and straw brought
her by two daughters, who seemed perfectly
unconcerned at our approach, though not
rag of clothing adorned their bronzed bodies
We soon reached village built entirely OF mud,
from which crowd of gaping Arabs made their
appearance A few women were wnnowlng
wheat by throwing il into the air, and children
we're picking up the stray grains Small Pits
we're dug near BY, into which the grain and
straw are placed and covered with clay for WIN
ter use. A little further on was an Arab en-
campment consisting of tents eff coarse black
cloth. A single copper dist appeared 10 be the
only piece of furniture possessed by some OF the
families, except the kaiyooR, pipe is almost
ss necessary to an Arab as 10 Turk. While
Salome was exchanging her hard horse for a
donkeya crowd of ragged women and naked
children gathered around us, and 10 our request
that they would stand of little, they wanted 10
know "why" 1--WE are nothing but women
we shall not hurt YOU without having the most
distant suspicion that a dirt-brown hide aud ua-
sayory smell could possibly be dlSagreeaole. we
soon passed on, but not until We had declined the
offer made by some of the men 20 lease camels,
aud We had gently insinuated TO the far ser the
propriety of little more attention 10 the de-
tails of dress and the utility of soap and water
Here we got conception of what Mahomet
failed TO accomplish and yet | suppose he ought
TO have credit for what good he did effect
A riyulet soon crossed our path-a grateful
sight 70 those of us who had not seen one for
half year Fields of cotton stretched along
by the water side and women were picking the
open balls. KS horse was so much pleased