New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-26

I church over LIg tomb was visible 10 the left
but We did not visit it. The general appearance
Of the village at a distance was quite pleasant
the houses having 5 more substantial air than
those Of tue Yezedees. which are scattered
along the base OF the mountains from the Zskhs
TO the ZAb We assembled the winding street
OF stairs With some difficulty and we're vel
coined TO the convent by Kos Elisha, the Supe
nor of that monkish retreat. About forty
monks were IN the cells of the convent. Many
OF the holes cut in the rocks and formerly th1s
occupied are now vacant. We were invited
into dark room and seated upon rugs brought
from the cells Water. coffee and pine were
then brought By the direction Of our host OF
I the wine, however my temperance principles
did not allow me TO taste, although / was little
DESTROYS 10 test its strength, as likely to indi-
cate somewhat the degree Of austerity preva-
lent there
The earth over the tomb of the builder of the
Convent has as much efficacy az that of the
cave where ST Paul spent three months with
Publius. though the sly wink Of Kos klisha. when
Hussein Beg asked for quantity to take home
with him indicated sOmeVh hat less sincerity in
c0unteEsDcing the imposition than did the sac
ristan who declared TO me on the " faith OF a
Catholic at Ialta thai although several ship
loads of febrifuge" had been taken from ST.
Paul's Cave, itneyer grew larger. A tall, brown
monk brought the Prncethe desired medicine.
and when Mr.. X. inquired Of the Kos the res-
son Of his allowing such humbuggery. he re-
piled, il was necessary 20 make the people be-
lieve in its mysterious power or they would not
show due reverence 10 them and their dOmici-
lium. ought TO do him the justice TO say that
under better training he would no doubt have
been a shining light and indeed, the impress
sion which / bore away Of these hermits in
black cowls and black turbans, was on the
whole, favorable to their general sincerity. We
were permit ed TO see theChapels paintings and
tOmbs Of the patriarchs Of the sect, and | add
ed my name 10 the short list of visitors. as cut
in the walls Of the unfinished Chapel, beginning
with Rich and ending with Layard and Perkins
Syriac. Arabic and Estranghelie inscriptions are
over the doors and on the bOx-like monuments
of the bishops buried there. and rude daubs of
the virgin and her sister saints hung around the
walls, and an interesting picture OF an old man
/ with Mary and her babe On route from Egypt
/ praced the holy Of holes After Dir X had made
a few corrections in a Ms Syro Arabic lexicon,
and my broad brimmed hat had been sufficiently
examined and commented on. We were invited
To dinner. The cell into which We were con-
Quoted was Illuminated by means Of white pa
rer pasted over couple of holes opening to-
NdI0 the south, through NhitH rupture tui-
bled me 10 take view Of the immense plain be-
low us. In tho spring the prospect must be
grand. The table from which We ate was formed
by placing a circular board over a backless
/ chair Two DeyilwOrshippors, a Chaldean
Bishop, an communicated Catholic turned
Episcopalian, and COngregati0nalist sat around
il and deyOuTed the chickens, rice, grapes, GU
cumbers and figs which the servants brought on
and part OF the guests appeared TO relish the
rich vine. Iussein Bey poured down several
tumblers OF IT, and SyOk said the red color OF il
reminded him OF the brandy, two bottles of
which tie English Ambassador furnished him
daily at StambGl!
Kosba Elisher Gas he writes his name in
Syiac) presented me with rough Shepherds
crook answering for a cane, not without expect
ing backsish in return OF double value.
We led our horses down the precipitous
stsirs, bid the crowd of cowled heads adieu, and
soon reached Bozan. Abdi Aeah, the chief of
tie Adedeen, near Jezeoreh, was there waiting
/ 10 escort us back to Baadri route to Shiekh
Adj His rich turban. shawl girdle saddle and
tIappings, all Of silk and of gaudy colors,
foImed striking contrast with the simple dress
Of Hussein Beg-hs superior. But every chief
has right to choose his colOrs as well AS an
American; yet Judge that one reason of the
general simplicity OF the dress of these people
is 20 be found in the fact that they wish to avoid
taxation as much as possible. IL may be that
they expect al some future time to become the
dominant pOUtr in the Sinjar and Shlekhan
Tie NestoI ians of the mountains wear nothing
but rags for fear Of the rapacious kurds. Vast
numbers of them come down To Mosnl IN the
winter 10 avoid the extreme cold at the villages,
and present sad contrast even with the Arabs
that crowd the novels outside the walls. The
wealth OF MOslem is to be judged BY his dress,
but no such critei ion will apply to the Nesrdni.
Pride with them is sure 10 have fall. Ii
makes ones blood run cold to think of the saw
age massacres the MOsem kurds have perpe
trated on the lezedees and Christians. | re-
ioced that 10 the former there is at least one
favor granted nOw-that OF an annual pilgrimage
20 the shrine of their fathers.
Our company numbered over twenty on our
return, and the plain afforded them all opportu-
nifty TO show their skill in Workmanship and
shaking Of the spear in a mock battle. We
passed the grave ground where the spirits of the
tribe. il is supposed, will gather at the general
Judgment. | noticed a great number OF small
conical structures said 10 mark the places where
their Shekhs have had interviews with angels
afterwards saw the man in black who holds
direct communication between Sheikh Naslr
the religious head Of the lezedees and bis Ss-
tsnic Majesty The doctrine of Spirit rappings
is not so new as some of you Americans sup
pose. The Devil wOrshippers here have as good
reason for their belief in the messages this go
between brings from the spirit-land as your
syiriiEdiiSfs have for the messages OF their nc
diHms The simple-hearted deyll-w0rshlppers
here are far less bound 10 the observance OF the
principles of the lnductive Philosophy than the
seers Of Rochester and StratfOrd Before the
lsfrer sheer af their brethren in rs quarter ofthe
world let them look al home. The same kind
OF credphty that has made these people adop;
their curious religious notions isworking among
your JrtetLiHkers: it viii net be strange II they
come 10 adopt in many respects system iiAe
The Persinn Maj Gnh will then be FIRE ID.