The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-01-13
THE DEVIL WoRsHIPPERs.
A Visit to Their Temples in the
Valley of Shekih Adj.
From the London Telegraph.

\ few hours ride from Baladri, north
east of Mosul, is picturesque glen or
gorge in the Highland district of Amadi-
yah, known far and wide throughout
Asiatic Turkey as the Valley of Sheikh
Adj. 1t is an idyillie retreat, shut in from
the outer world by the mountains that
completely surround it. But the valley
has an uncanny reputation. Christian,
Moslem, and Jew all shun it, for it is the
Mazar, or pilgrim resort, of the hated
Karabash, or Blackheads, as the natives of
the country style the Yezidis or devil wor-
shippers of Mesopotamia.' Conspicuous in
the middle of the glen is a fair-sized white
edifce with double spire, and spacious
outbuildings, the Tomb of Sheikh Adj, the
founder of the strange sect whose object of
reverence is Satan. Higher up the valley
is much smaller building simple, OBJ
long erection, low pitched, and of the
plainest possible construction. 1t is win
dowless, has "a single spire, and is dazzingly
white. The front faces the rising sun, and
the slender point rising from the roof
catches the last lingering rays of the west
ering orb At the back of the edifc is a
series of sheltered aleove-like pens, in which
are stabbed seven white kline, carefully
tended by white robed stshavish. u
These animals are sacred, dedicated to
Sheikh Shems-that is, to the Sun; and
the building to which they are attached is
the Sanctuary of the White Cow" the
temple of the devil worshippers. Here,
annually, usually in mid August, a solemn
initiation is celebrated, at which the "Kak, y
or fakir saint of the Devils Order, from
Aleppo, is present; and this high function
of the Yezidi Church have, thanks to the
favor of the holy man, the privilege of
witnessing among the black robed attend
ants that form his encourage.
The valley is full of Yezidi pilgrims,
who have spread their tents under branch
ing oak trees on the hill sides, or construct
ed rude tabernacles of beams and greenery
on the fiat roofs of stray buildings there,
The ceremony takes place at night, and, as
the shadows begin to lengthen, and the
sun settles on the hill crests in the west,
the devil worshippers gather by hundreds
in front of the Sanctuary of the White
Kline. The men are dressed in spotless
white robes and wear white turbans, above
which rise the tops Of the black caps, from
which they derive their popular designation
"Kara-bash, or Blackheads. Here and
there are seen the flaming orange robe and
head gear of "pir, or priest, and more
conspicuous still, by reason of its contrast
to the rest, the sombre black "mashiah"
and head covering of the fakirs of the
fraternity. All, however, wear the pecu-
liar vests of white cotton, aud the twisted
black cord round the neck which marks
the true Yezidi, the devil worshipper born
and bred. The sectaries use no form of
prayer, and have no written liturgy; indeed,
they cannot, any of them, read or write.
these accomplishments being prohibited to
all, whether layman or cleric, with the
solitary exception of single family to
which is intrusted as an hereditary charge,
the reading of the Yezidi Bible-the
"Jaloo" which, with the 'sIashaf Rash, y
constitutes their aBlack Book. When