The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-01-13

the worshippers rise and hold out thei
hands so as to catch its last rays. The,
cover their faces with both hands and kis
them, and finally, as the luminary sinks
they, with one accord, fall upon their knees
bend their heads to the ground, touch tn
earth with their finger tips, and gently tai
their foreheads above the eyebrows.
GAS soon as it is dark a white robet
''tshavish, who has charge of the sanctu
ary, emerges from the pen in the rear o
the building, carrying in his hands half
dozen small lamps, ready lighted, which h
fixes in tiny inches prepared for them ii
front. This is the signal for the commence
ment of the celebration, aud, in an instan
almost answering lights fash from every
corner of the valley, They gleam star
like, suspended from trees, dangling upol
poles, or placed in hooks and crannies o
the rocky hillsides. The fires of those en-
eamped in the glen are piled afresh, anC
stirred until the flames leap high into th'
rand the ruddy glare is reflected the length
and breadth of the valley. Scarcely art
the lamps placed in the inches about thu
temple when the sound of music is hearC
in the distance, and the lights of process
sion are seen approaching from the Toni
of Sheikh Adj. 1t is the procession o
the '.NIalak Taus, or Angel Peacock, the
sacred symbol of the devil worshippers
The Yezidis part right and left as the bear
ers of the Holy Sanjak came nearer, tt
allow them to pass on to the sanctuary. Ii
front march score of "koshaks,' or ser
vitors of the temple, in dark garments
carrying torches. Behind them follow five
"kawals,' or musicians, in the orthodox
white mantles and black head gear, playing
Justify upon reeded flutes and tambourines
then "pir," or priest, in flaming yellow
rearing aloft the covered emblem of the
Satan cultus, and in rear dozen swarthy
black robed fakirs. The party make
straight for the small temple in front, &C
round, and pass in by low door in rear
where the sacred white kline are stabbed, in
charge of their stshavish. P" Instructed by
the 'farash," | join the fakirs and follow
Entering the doorway, we proceed not for
ward, but downward, by steps cut in the
earth and leading underground. The
music ceases, but we march on, the 'kosh-
kas'' with their faring torches lighting the
way, for the descent is in perfect darkness
We go further on, through gloomy pas
sage with a slight slope, and, after sharp
turn to the right, reach the Holy of Holes
of the Yezidis, the underground temple Of
the devil worshippers.
The sanctuary is huge subterranean
vault; originally, no doubt natural cave
1t is in semi-darkness when we enter, and
it is not easy to determine its exact proper
tions, but it appears to be about so feet
long by 40 feet broad. A series of reces-
ses has been cut on each side, and these
are filled with grim looking white robed
figures, standing silent and impassiye as
only 0rientals can when deeply moved.
In front of these, the elders of various
communities, scattered throughout the
neighboring Pashaliks, are ranged; on the
right double row of "pirs," priests, all
attired in the white vests; fame-colored
mantles, and turbans of their caste. On
the left are double row of the mendicant
fakirs, wearing the coarse black ''mashlah y
and headgear which are incumbent upon
their order. Their eyes seem turned in,
ward, as though engaged in intrespection,
and they look like men under the influence
of hashish; or some such sense-overmaster-
ing drug. At the further extremity of the
temple are ranged the women of the
"Faikraya, or convent attached to the
tomb Of Adj. They are attired, like the
male members of the hierarchy, in white
garments and headdresses, and are only
distinguished from the men by a cord draw
ing in their robes round the waist. Ii
front of them is the "Kabana, or Lady
Superior, wearing white tuft in her head
dress. The end by which we entered i
occupied by the "koshaks," bearing the
torches, the flare of which sheds a fitfu
light over the assembly. In the centre o.
the sanctuary is a square stone altar, ant
behind this stand, on one side, the spiritua
head of the Yezidis, on the other lay the
head, or Emir of the community. Be
tween both is the "Kak," or Chief of thu
Fakir Brotherhood, who takes precedenct
of everybody, and whose person and cloth
ing are reckoned so holy that none evel
venture to touch them. Above the ALTA
hangs a single lamp, the solitary illuminan
of the underground temple, and in front o.
it stretched upon the bare ground, lie 1--WE
human figures, One is attired in spotles,
white cerements, the other garbed in The
full black robes of the fakir fraternity
One is the corpse of dead mend;can
brother, the other the body of a living
novice who is to become his successor il
the order. The faces of both are livic
and drawn, and in the titful gloom of tn.
sanctuary it is impossible to distinguish the
living Yezidi from the dead fakir beside
him.
1t is certainly weird and impressive
scene, and aiittle eerie, presented by the
interior of the underground sanctuary III
the semi-darkness, as the "pirs'' and fakirs
of the "Malak Taus'' procession reach then
places by the side of their brethren The
4