New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-21

.InEGG
segred forth tremendous Hood
r. h.ino 4 disgrace among them for any but their
spritnal head and treasurer 70 earn 20 % laal ~
fIey have nothing but vague trsaitohs eit OF ee ga
z@.os,t,isnisyn II Will be an interesting inquiry 70
tn bat relation the g0n Of the sabeans bore TO
sht ~ ,h ssvriansa az represented 10 their m0nan nts
Tid they stand In aEtegOntsn, or we're tney gnefen'
Ss.elnn,,e,ts ef the old Persian theology The get
s1ef N this question viii throw much light on some
a. esrv forms Of idOlatry those forms which SUI nave
,ises prder the sancton Of the Sbasters.
RAT let ne return 70 the festival. Every morning.
ssted children we're brought to the sscred fountains ana
smmersed The Yezedees believe 10 regeneration Oy
ksrtisml Nothing further il necessary 20 savatoa
except careuness to observe the traditions Of the sec
with regard to dress, food, secresy and satan You've
efrDes we're made TO the shrine OF the Shelsn Aai IN
she shape Of hafs blankets, thaws ano sneep zen
ever blanket 20 be carried 70 tne Tempe Oeub VI
fnte and tambOurne operators preceded the oierer,
who added to his stock Of preparation Tor the upper
world by every such contribution 20 the presth0O1
The rs we're considered sacred and the Pigcs Missed
fhe a. they passed The large court before the temple
constantly filed with people, ana me tso se' ol
Il were lined with temporary bazaars where taTdy or
naments fruit and sheets Of bread were exposed Tor
ssIe Whenever any ofus Franks passed through, an
opening was made in their ranks voluntarily aud every
possible mark Of attention shown us there IS no
private Judgment in this country. All questions are
decided By representative, rather hereditary heads
If Mar Shirn0n the patriarch Of the mountain Nesto-
rians should turn Catholic, all his people would 90 with
him except those who have learnt the truth as II taught
1t OrOoniah. The chief men among the fezedees
treating us with honor enough why the peo
pe should lay aside all prejudices against C. Doubtless
they prefer that no Christian Of the country no Mose
ard no Frank should be present 1T Their religious eefe
monies, and but few ever venture among them l"eFe
years since il would have cost Frank his head - tread
that sacred ground in the time Of the feast Mr k1s
Gam has given them such efficient aid IN their complaints
10 the Turkish Government that they look upon MN ss
a mediator and IN return for bis good Ofces me people
ho Of
tbe sheks These they regard with great affection, and
tho Chiefs in consequence regard them az their children
and not az their prey They inver the order Of me
Turk In this matter His business isto act the vampire
doubt II any king upon earth ~ regarded WIN suc1
sincere respect by his subjects az Hussen bey ana
gbeikh Easr by their simple-hearted people.
The confusion in front Of our cabin was at tunes
deafening. Silyerheaded damsels we're among the
srowdyOung had on their large gay turoans sucA
with dafods from the neutrality-suspicious. rode their
horses hung with gaudy trappings-mules struggled IN
der their oads Of p0megr8nates grapes hgs ralsins
and dry goods-donkeys half concealed beneath theIi
turdens-aIl crowded the pathways and Jostled eacr
other without ceremony. Here boy sna tched 9Jh
hey up In his arms and bears him through the crowd
there women are swinging their infants to sleep IN
srades made Of ropes aud attached 70 the branches o.
trees yonder is an old blind man picking bis way pro-
baby the last time, down the rocky mountain.a are
ehsttering and full Of Joy upon Che holy ground which
they tread barefoOted 10 keep II from dehiemcnt
Ii was with some difficulty we accommodated in our
narrow quarters all our distinguished visitors 70 whom
of course, coffee must be passed and seats iurnslcl
Most Of the time for the FIVE days we were there Nj
Rs house was oyerfoved and some Of the natives were
always present al bis meals. need not describe Their
sykwaTdness in using our table Instruments for doubt
less ours was as great when used hngers az Their
hospitable boards. Every evening band oi hnle an
tambOurine players and or two dancers performer
a sacred piece before door. Their movements were
monotonous but graceful Dressed in sort Of bishops
robe and extending their long sleeves when hung loose
= l.. L. 1.sfNN
from the sh0ulder carrying their hands on icvc WIN
their heads their measured tread made It certain the
performance had some connection with religion Ones
mind reverted at once the days of David The only
rclgious dance saw that Of six men who slapped
each others hands in good time singing loudly II not
weetly, to the blows.
Every evening our party took walks among the shrub
berry and fountains We observed figs upon thrifty trees
Wild crabappes and pears large acOrns and gall nuts on
the shruboaks young kGrOts, malberfes aud bacADer
ries. Though Of them was cultivated II vas EVIL
dent the soil aud climate ia that quarter wOuld be favor
able 10 many Of the fruits Of the middle States. Mr.
Rassam has already introduced the Sea Island cotton
with remarkable success and he proposes next year To
slant some sweet potatoes and Irish also at Bladr
the village he has rented. Such improvements can be
made In Turkey The oaks Of Shiekh Adj we're 50 pecl
bar that Mr. Lsyard conveyed some OF them TO England
The view in the evening exceedingly beautiful
Groups we're gathered every terrace aud roof each
having It's torch liz from the sacred fire ded
Gated TO Shekh Shems The mountains sides seemed TO be
set with golden gems. Their dark SUBMITS formed 1ne
contrast with their blazing sides aud brought wildly TO
Mind the giant Gibraltar it appeared the night We
sailed into the hArbor. tlookedlke tall block OF por
phyry girdled with brlanis TIE people passed their
hands through the torch flames aud then over their faces
While the stones on which the lights set were ksssd
with reverental awe.
One evening was called to see young man in the
grasp Of death He had bathed in the holy fountain 10
drive away his fever and found IL not to be another 81
loan His relatives had not arrived ull just before
called, and he had been all day speechess and cold
Some tartar emetc and brought him 70 bis senses,
but not till his wife and sisters stripped of all theirons
ments and the crowd had commenced bowling for his ex
peeted death. The next morning the mother sent me
shecp and offered to give Mr. Holder the artist Of the
British Museum, her three daughters. We had some
prospect Of seeing the offer accepted when il was sud
aeuly ascertained that il would be great sin for lez
edee 10 marry one Of a different creed BE not une.
gualy ycked together with unbeheyers All they could
do for us therefore was to dance
AT the invitation Of Sheikh NaSir, Mr. Rassam and
myself took breakfast with the mobiles of the tribe Our
boots were exchanged for pumps at the entrance ofthe
most holy precincts About hundred aud hf occupied
the stone door Of the court All at our entrance
Coffee was proHered and the everlasting pipe. Shiskh
kasirwore red silk gown, over which was snow-whte
sba or thin cloak huge gay turban, and his face
remarkably mild and pleasant Some Of the dgntaTies
wore bloodred eloaks colored silk ashes around ther
waists filed with dsggers aud pistols white brooches and
rich taIbans while others plainly clad The walls
sf the temple we're carved with various 6gureseroOss
combs, hatchets snakes, lions and gu0s-wAieh we're
doubtless symbolical, but Of what cannot tel.
Breakfast was announced BY kH,caA asking blessing
from SheiAh Adj II the simple cry to the multitude 70 eat
81 the great saints feast could be called So and then
brought successive dishes Of meat and vegetables to the
dgnitares the takrs always being careful 70 observe
rigid respect 20 rank. We came after Shekh Nas.r-
their POPE Sheets Of coarse bread were spread upon