[47] The Christians always remove their shoes in their churches, in addition to uncovering their heads.
[48] Another chamber, now used as an oil store for the temple lamps, opens out of the sanctuary to the westward. It is conceivable that this may have been the original nave, following the true lines of Orientation; and that the naves on the south side were added subsequently when larger accommodation was required.
[49] The Yezidis are so careful on this point that they even avoid words which are at all similar in sound to Sheitan, such as shat an arrow and keitan a thread.
[50] i.e. “Standards.”
[51] They also act medicinally; the water in which they are washed being a great specific against every kind of disease.
[52] When Mrs. Badger visited Sheikh Adi the priest showed her an image which they said was that of Melek Taüs. But this was almost certainly a bronze lamp in the form of a bird, which they produced to appease her importunity. We are informed, however, that a later visitor has actually seen and photographed one of the sanjaks.
[53] These practices, of course, did not originate in the Mosaic ritual, and the Yezidis may possibly have borrowed them direct from a yet older source.
[54] This owes its name to the fact of its having contained the word, Sheitan—now in every instance carefully erased.
[55] It is possible that the Yezidis themselves at one time encouraged this misconception; for, so long as the Ommayedes were on the throne, Yezid’s name may have helped to gain them toleration.
[56] In this legend we meet with the only official explanation to account for Melek Taüs being represented as a peacock. When the Marys came to the empty tomb and found no body within it, Melek Taüs (says the legend) appeared to them as a Dervish and related what he had done. To rebuke their doubts, he took a cock which had been killed, cooked, and dismembered, and restored it to life in their sight. He then vanished; first informing them that henceforth he would choose to be worshipped in the form of the most beautiful of birds. The representation of Deities under the form of birds was familiar to the ancient Babylonians.