The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-08-31
DEVIL WORSHIPPERS,
THE MYSTIC SECT THAT PAYS
REVERENCE TO SATAN.
Ecrie and Unho1y RiteH-Midnight
Ceremonies Witnessed In One of
the Loveliest Valleys of Central
Asin-WOrship of the Peacock.

the LOveliest Valleys Of Central
. Asin-WOrship of the Peacock.
Some seventeen miles or so north
east of Mosul, in Asiatic Turkey, is
delightful highland glen known far
and wide throughout the country as
the Valley of Sheikh Adj. Encircled
by a low range of verdure clad hills,
it is completely closed in by them,
and cut off from the outer world The
mountain sides are terraced and stud.
ded with evergreen oaks, spreading
sycamores and glossy terebinths,
clumps of waving palms and gnarled
wild olives that afford pleasant shade
and shelter from the fierce beams of
the too intrusive Eastern sun. A
bushy underground of shrubs covers
the gentler declivities on either hand,
and the pale pure meadow crocus and
glowing ranunculus carpet the ground
In regular patches. The musical CUR
gle OF falling water strikes gently and
soothingly on the ear, while the ex-
pectant eye catches, amid the green of
the trees, the rainbow sparkle of a
score Of tiny rivulets and brooks that
spring from the heights above and
come tumbling and foaming to the
lower ground, forming miniature cas-
cades and cataracts, slowly meander-
ing away afterward until they are lost
In stream that finds it's outlet in a
turn Of the glen concealed from view.
mere is but one building to be seen
IN the valley-a rectangular structure
perfectly plain and unpretending
some forty feet long and thirty feet
broad in the centre, with a dome or
cupola surrounding it, an enclosed
courtyard open to the sky, at one ex
Cremlty, and series of small cabins
aDuttlng against the other end consti-
tutlng part of it. The edifice Is
white, White as snow and shows in tho
CUNT OF the sunbeams like a speck of
glowing metal against the yerdant
Foreground of foliage. The glen is an
lueal spot, a paradiscal retreat, but.
notWlthstanding this, it is dreaded
ana feared by the people of the sur
roundlng country. Moslem, Christian
ana Jew all alike avoid it. Not for
World would one Of them enter it. for
Tue valley is the home and ''Mazar"
oi lneet1ng place, of the hated "Yezi-
u.s." the devil worshipers of Kurdis-
tan, strange tribe which for centur-
les mas made Satan the object of it's
auoratlons, while the white building in
Tue MIDST of the glen is the tomb of
enelr reputed founder and saint the
nnelkn Adj. Here these secthries Of
Tue deVl1 gather three times in The
year LOT the purpose of celebrating
tnos eerle and unholy rites Of their
cult which have made them abhorroi]
ny thelr nelghbors and fellowmen.
Striking and picturesque to a dooroo
Is the appearance of the val1ov %
roue down into it the gathering dark
ness OF a lovely night in early sum-
mer: 1t is the eve of one of the nrin-
c1pa1 solemnities of the sect, and the
pace is full of Yezidis who have come
from every part of Kurdistan to greet
tne max or spiritual head Of the fra
ternlty, Whom hive already met at
aleppo, where he usually resides
some two thousand of them arc an.
eamped within the hilly corcle round
1nelr tents are pitched under evorv
Tree and near every rill Of water
Ane1r nres Sleam on the dec1ivitios
ana slopes, their lights twinkle through
tne DUSK IN every direction and from
exely point OF vantage, having oil the
enece OF a general illumination.
>, Men, strange Of figure move stealth
ny ABOUT in the singular garh which
proclalms the YYezidi. Thew vear
long white undergarment an overTnan1
tie OF yellow, reaching nearly down to
the ankels, and conical, black can.
whlch has gained for them, among
Moslems, the designation "Karabash''
(plack head), by which they are gen
orally known throughout Asiatic Tur-
Key. The upper part of their garment
Is always open, showing the knotted
cord round the neck by which the true
Worshlpper of the devil may invaria-
Oily be distinguished. This cord hangs
ooWn IN front, is never taken off for
an instant by Yezidi and is known
as .'Mahak,' the bride, that is.
Inc women gathered near the fires.
that begin to get low as night goes
on, wear white garments only and a
yellow head dress. Here and there q
black browed "Karabash" or brother
attired wholly in black, passes bv on
his way to the shrine Of the Sheihh
Adl' and anon 'Pir" or priest, in the
name colored mantle which proclaims
MS standing In the Yezidi hierarchy.
moves silently In the direction of the
sanctuary.
The ceremonies Of the sect do not
commence until midnight, so there is
time for all to rest in the interval and
prepare for the solemnity. The dark
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