Page 186 - Neglected Arabia Vol 2

8 X UGLliCTED ARAM A
the men. The water of this spring is thought by members of the faith to
travel miraculously from Mecca, and a temple is erected to its honor in ■;
which the women have the privilege of worship. When one lives on the
plains of Iraq, where the annual rainfall is only six inches and the water ?
supply is taken from the Tigris river entirely, it is easy to understand how
an ignorant class of people like this would take to worshiping a spring.
Which all goes to show that man is instinctively religious and is bound to
fmd some sort of a god.
Our party was not fortunate enough to meet Sa'id Beg, the chief of
the Yezidis. We were told that he was ill but it was also whispered that
he likes "to look upon the wine when it is red.” I say "not fortunate,"
because Sa’id Beg, although not a strong, imposing, august person, is
nevertheless one not easily forgotten. His picture reveals a silky, black
Im'hi'iI, hooked none, (lowing skirl, mill above all a melancholy uppeuruuc#,
The luticr may he quite natural for his position carries with it an auto*
cralie sway over all the members of the fuith and commands no smull in- I
come, and judging from the brutal customs of the tribe it may be inferred
that few of these "infernal" representatives on earth have died a natural \ j
death. However, we were greeted by the custodian, who happens to be a
cousin of the Mir, and who has many of the characteristics of his superior.
M is hospitality is exceeded only by that of the desert Arab. We were i
escorted into the upper chamber where coffee was served and our welcome
established. But the attractions on the outside were enticing, and before
long we were all watching the festival dance under the spreading mulberry
tree. Women with unveiled faces joined hands with the men in the circle.
Bright shades of all colors, except blue, abounded. With the Sabeans, they
abhor the color blue. Our cameras were working overtime and seemingly
there was no objection to picture-taking until the writer desired the jxjrtrait
of a little girl all dressed up for the festivities in a long striped dress, a
wide silver girdle, beads, numerous coins, etc. The mother, possibly having I
some dread of the "evil eye,” hustled her away as if snatching her away
from some grave danger. The old rule of persistency was applied and !
after the third attempt, with the promise of "back-sheesh” (tips), the
little miss posed, and the picture was taken.
Presently we were recalled to the aforementioned chamber where a
table was spread with things that pleased the appetite. The edge of the
table was fringed with native bread, while the center fairly groaned under­
neath its burden of grapes, watermelon, sweetmeats, etc.
After lunch we were all ready for a glimpse of the inner shrine. A»
one enters the temple court he is greeted by crude engravings cut on the
porticos, including jjeacocks, stars, hatchets, and combs. And the mutt
striking of ull perluqm in the nliiny black ncrpcni curved on the wall m i|*
light of the temple door. The Yezidis rejoice in the fact that the devil ;
took on the form of a serpent in the garden of Eden and thus made ]>os*ibJt
the peq>etuation of the human race. Having removed our shoes
UI)QQ
request, one by one we carefully stepi>ed over the holy stone of the
threshold and entered the temple, which consists of several almost emutv
chambers, and gives the appearance of a dungeon. To the right as *1 s
entered was a pool of water said to have all sorts of healing qualities. \V« }' :
wondered at the time why the seemingly indisposed Beg had not bathed m