strictness. The Psalms of David are in use, but they are
held to be inferior to their own book. They abstain from
garlic, beans, and several kinds of pulse, and likewise
most carefully from every description of food between sunrise
and sunset during a whole moon before the vernal
equinox; in addition to which, an annual festival is kept,
called the feast of five days. Much respect is entertained for
the city of Mecca, and a still greater reverence for the pyramids
of Egypt, in one of which they believe that their great
progenitor, Saba, son of Seth, is buried; and to his original
residence at Haran they make very particular pilgrimages,
sacrificing on these occasions a ram and a hen. They
pray seven times a-day, turning sometimes to the south1
and sometimes to the north.2 But at the same time they
retain a part of the ancient worship of the heavenly bodies,
adding that of angels, with the belief that the souls of the
wicked are to enjoy a happier state after nine hundred centuries
of suffering. The priests, who are called sheikhs, or
chiefs, use a particular kind of baptism, which, they say, was
instituted by St. John ; and the Chaldee language is used in
this and other ceremonies.3
The strict preservation of this tongue, (which of itself denotes
a separate origin from the Arabs,) together with the
particular connexion between Palestine and the ancient people
of Upper Mesopotamia, make it possible that these Sabeans
may be descended from Sheba, son of Ketura, which would
account for the great respect paid to the residence of one of
their idolatrous ancestors (Terah). Ben Schunah calls the
Sabeans Syrians, and adds, they use the language of Adam in
their books ;4 and another writer, Ibn Koura, says their religion
is the same as that of the old Sabeans.5 In our intercourse,
we found them to be quiet and harmless, but exceedingly
cautious, and unwilling to communicate, except with
Mr. Rassam, who was almost considered as one of themselves.
1 Egypt. 8 Hdran.
3 From MS. Collections made by Mr. Rassam.
4 MS. Translation by Mr. Rassam.
5 Ibid.
The other religion, that of a more numerous branch, the
Yezidis, is, in some respects, like the Mendajaha, but with
the addition of the evil principle, the exalted doctor, who, as
an instrument of the divine will, is propitiated rather than
worshipped, as had been once supposed. The Yezidis reverence
Moses, Christ, and Muhammed, in addition to many of the
saints and prophets held in veneration both by Christians and
Moslems. They adore the sun, as symbolical of Christ, and
believe in an intermediate state after death. The Yezidis of
Sinjar do not practise circumcision, nor do they eat pork; but
they freely partake of the blood of other animals. Their
manners are simple, and their habits, both within and without,
remarkable for cleanliness. They are, besides, brave, hospitable,
sober, faithful, and, with the exception of the Muham-
medan, are inclined to tolerate other religions: they are,
however, lamentably deficient in every branch of education.
Polygamy is not permitted, and the tribes intermarry with
each other. The families of the father and sons live under
the same roof; and the patriarchal system is carried out still
further, each village being under its own hereditary chief.1
Amongst these mountaineers, Mr. Forbes heard of the
practice of certain rites by their co-religionists, the most noble
of the Izedi tribes; whose chief temple is at Sheikh Adi,
eastward of the Tigris. Their temporal and spiritual head,
Sheikh An, resides at Bagh-Idri, in Nav-kur; and their
churches are plain buildings, without peacocks, images, or
anything else to distinguish them, except the bitumen fires
of their annual festival: and it is now ascertained by Mr.
Ainsworth that they are quite as simple in their manners and
conduct as the other Yezidis.
Another traveller says they have a high regard for Christians,
use- baptism, make the sign of the cross, put off their
shoes at and kiss the threshold of a Christian church, believe
in one supreme God, and in Christ, in some sense, as a Saviour
: their religion contains also a . remnant of Sabianism.2
1 Mr. Forbes’ Visit to the Sinjar Hills, Vol. IX. Part III. pp. 424, 425,
&c., of the Royal Geographical Journal.
8 Dr. Asahel Grant’s Lost Tribes, &c., p. 31. Murray, 1841.
VOL. I. I