New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-21
ASIA MINOR.
he Great Festival of the Devil Worsbippers aud
their Doctrines,

he Great Festival OF the Devn Worsbippers aud
their Doctrines.
Correspondence N. Y. Tribune. &C., go
The urgent duties Of my post have prevented me from
sooner completing my sketch OF visit TO the shrine of
Sheikh Adj
At the conclusion Of my last letter Informed You of
our safe return 10 Baadn from a trip TO Rubban Hor-
muzd-the great college Of tho Chaldeans near ~
Kosh Il was Saturday night. Sunday was clear and
beautiful day but how little like Christian Sabbath
Women washing the garments Of their lords in the
brooks shepherds watching their hocks men catherine
cotton and all regardless Of the sanctity Of the day
The Yezedees observe no day of the week holy tine
The women do not rash on "Wednesday, but labor of
other kinds is not omitted Their religious festivals are
regarded with the greatest respect bat eyn these As
shall have occasion to show, are destitute of any OBJ
seryances which TO Western mind have any resem.
bance to true religious worship unless II be the adora
ton Of his Satanic HighDess.
We read tho Episcopal service and a sermon but
constantly annoyed with calls from the officials thought
of the Sabbaths and sanctuares of nv native andfhe
great and silent congregation the devotion the ntelec
ual repast the soaee Of the Gospel Of grace the warn
ngs Of coming judgment Oh when shall this remnant
of the Sabean fire wOrshppers have such opportunities
as Christendom affords for learning the will of Godi
Here they live from generation to generation change
less people, TevereDcing faint symbols Of the Almighty
but never offering Him tribute Of Thanksgiving adopt
ing exaggerated notions about Christ and Mahommed
but choosing in the main the path Of their fathers though
IL leads TO destruction.
About sunset the French Consul arrived from Mosul
with bis party and did not hesitate to paake largely Of
the Grrdek of our host 1t is no SANDER TO say that
many Frank travellers and temporary residents in the
East do great deal to encourage drunkenness and its
kindred vices The timbrel and dance of the natives
preceded some Anglo American hymns and We retired
to mud floors for the night delighted to know that
though among strange and untamed people, we were
in no danger eff having slunbers disturbed by the
knife or bullet Of savage foe Fifteen years ago no
American could have slept there 10 safety Indeed we
the first Americans that ever lodged az the head
quarters of the deyi-worshppers and the frat 10 Wit
the ceremonies of their great festival They were
cruel people the Kurds but there we're days
when they showed erOcity equal to their neghbors.
Monday morning all astir at four O'Clock, the
chickens and eggs deyoured the tents struck aud
forty horsemen soon appeared on the plain. Hussein
Bey sent an escort with u.s. who amused with their
feats of horsemanshp and mock battles and made
ride delightful We inclined eastward u at the base Of
the mountains, passing several small villages and q
eastested ructure-the residence ofSheikh Nasr the
religious head Of the Yezedees. Political and religious
race Of governors and priests has resemblance 10 the
old Jewish order The presty is superior to the poIti
cal officer end has corresponding grades.
The cKirasses of the two Consus, with their silver
hted daggers and swords, their tight red breeche. and
tasseled ezes their gold embroidered vests and black
moustaches gave sort Of dignity TO our train well cal
culaed strike the poor foot and donkey pilgrims bv the
way with ave- and produce for the whole OF our party not
little reverence From Ain Sifich VILLAGE which We
reached after two hours ride course turned northwar5
and We made our entrance into the valley of Shekh Adj
with as much parade as our American friend ,roul3
think consistent with the humility becoming us The
narrowness OF the gorge by which we entered the sacred
precincts compelled Us to 20 Indian Ie among rocks
oeanders rasPoerre', shrub oaks, mulberres, psts-