THE YEZIDEES

year at any rate, Both my husband and the men
with him were quite ill for a few hours after visiting
Sheikh Adi, so they were not anxious to return.
The natives say that this illness is caused by drinking
the water, but that the effect passes off after a few
days, when one has become accustomed to the water.

My husband, however, much enjoyed his visit
amongst these strange people, and in writing of that
time he says :—

66 These interesting people dwell in the mountains
round about Mosul, the ancient Nineveh. They are
ruled over by a sheikh, who claims to be able to put
some ten thousand armed horsemen in the field. On
account of their suspected devil-worship they are
detested by Moslems and Christians alike. The
Turks have more than once endeavoured to exter-
minate them; but, entrenched in their mountain
fastnesses, they are very hard to overcome.

" When in Mosul their sheikh called on me and
asked me to pay him a visit up in his mountain
home. Thus I was able to see their homes for my-
self, also the sacred shrine, hidden away in the
mountains, where their reputed founder (Sheikh
Adi) lies buried, from whom it derives its name.

" The Yezidees, like the Druses of Mount Lebanon,
are very reluctant to discuss their religion, and it is
said that death is the penalty for any one among
them who reveals the truth concerning what they
worship.

" On paying a visit to their sacred shrine (Sheikh
Adi), I found it hidden in the hollow of thickly-
wooded mountains, and composed of two large com-
pounds, the inner compound containing the shrine

290