The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-21

annual sacrifice. We must go to it,"
The Yezidi Chief rises and addresses
a few words in Kurdish to the
Kawadhs in waiting. We pass out in
to the open air, go down the valley
in the direction of the tomb of Sheikh
Adj, the attendants following with
lighted lamps. The white-robed Ka-
wadhs at the door of the mausoleum
has the door open, and we go in. We
do not, however, remain in the square
central chamber beneath the dome.
but make for a door at one end which
the Kak opens and enters. We traverse
a short passage, and then find our
selves in an oblong vault, cut evidently
in the rocky hillside. In the centre is
a square stone block, above which a
f1aring oil lamp is suspended, and
against the longer side are ranged
seven smaller blocks, ON each of which
a figure is seated in a somewhat un-
usual attitude, propped against the
wall Each is attired, in every parti-
cular, like the Kak whom 1 am ac-
companying, in white outer robe,
black headdress, yellow stole, and
white mahak about the neck. But
each is a corpse, or. rather. a skeleton,
for the flesh has long passed into
dust. These" exclaims the Kak, point
ing to the figures, these are the
Seven Sleepers;' and there" he adds,
pointing to a dark volume on the
central stone, lis the Black Book
which they guard" The book is
thick tome, bound in sheepskin dark
with age, but not otherwise remark
able. The Yezidi Chief opens the
volume, and / bend over to inspect
the writing The character is blurred
and indistinct, the ink rather coffee
cOlored and faded. The letters strike
me as something between the Samari-
tan and Pehlvi. Only once in the year
is the sacred Black Book taken out
and read in. parts to the assembled
devil worshippers, who do not, of
course, understand a single word of
it, Whether the Kak who recites it
knows what he is saying l obviously
cannot assert. I could hardly stretch
good manners so far as to ask that.
rs there any significance" l in
quire, lin these Seven Sleepers here?"
None" is the answer, save in the
fact that there are only seven, and
the number is never more or less. The
seven are my seven immediate prede-
cessors in the office of Kak. 1t is here
in presence of the departed, that the
new Head of the Yezidis always as
sumes the white mahak or bride,
which is his badge of supremacy: and
with his own hands he removes the
oldest of the 'sleepers' seated in the
vault and makes up the tale of seven
with the latest whom he succeeds
This one" pointing to the further
skeleton on the left. will be the next
to go; and here" pointing to the right
extremity, will be my place when
join my sleeping brothers"
What do you estimate to be the
total number of the Yezidis who are
subject to your authority" 1 asked.
about 100000, scattered through
Mesopotamia, Kurdistan and the eau
casus," is the reply.
And what are the obligations i'm
posed upon them as Yezidis?"
None whatever" says the Kak;
they have only to wear white, never
have anything of metal in their at
tire, abstain from using anything that
is blue, and lead quiet orderly lives"
We pass through another passage
direct into the open air of the valley,
and with a parting salute on both sides
my interview with the Kak of Yezidis
ends, leaving a distinct impression of
medieval unreality behind it. 1t
seems an inversion of the natural order
of things to find sect like the devil
worshippers thriving anywhere in the
world. 1t is no less singular, perhaps,
to point out that these self people
are among the quitest and most peace
able in Asiatic Turkey, and that a
Yezidi criminal is unknown there.