There is a great difference among the _ḳôchaks_, they contradict one another. Some say, “Melek Ṭâ´ûs appears to me and reveals to me many revelations.” Others say, “We appear to people in many different ways.” Some believe that Christ is Šeiḫ Šams himself. They say that they have had prophets in all times; the _ḳôchaks_ are the prophets. One of the _ḳôchaks_ says in one of his prophecies: “I was in Jonah’s ship, where a lot was cast in my presence. It fell on Jonah; and he was thrown into the sea, where he remained forty days and nights.” Another said: “I was sitting with the great God, who said, ‘I hope the time will come when I shall send Christ to the world.’ I said to him, ‘Yes.’ Then he sent him. After making a sign in the sun, Christ came down to the earth.” He appeared to our sect only, and made for us seven circles, which are at Šeiḫ ‘Adî. Now he appeared to us because we observe the necessary order, which the other sects do not observe. Their origin and race are unknown; ours are known. We are emirs and sons of emirs; we are šeiḫs and sons of šeiḫs; we are _ḳôchaks_ and sons of _ḳôchaks_, etc. But Christians and Moslems make priests and mullas for themselves out of those who had none of their kindred in those offices before, and never will have afterward. We are better than they. We are allowed to drink wine; our young men also may desire it when they, in company with women, engage in religious dancing and playing. Some of the _ḳôchaks_ and šeiḫs, however, are not allowed to drink it. When one is about to die, he is visited by a _ḳôchak_, who places a bit of Šeiḫ ‘Adî’s dust in his mouth. Before he is buried his face is anointed with it. Moreover, the dung of sheep is placed on his tomb. Finally, food is offered on behalf of the dead. The _ḳôchaks_ pray for the dead at the graves, for which service they are paid. They tell the relatives of the dead what they see in dreams and visions, and the condition of their dead, whether they have been translated to the human or to the animal race. Some people hide silver or gold coins that they plan to take out in case they are born the second time in this world. Some believe that the spirits of many righteous persons travel in the air. Those spirits make revelations to the _ḳôchaks_, who are acquainted with the world of mysteries and secrets. Life and death are in their hands. Hence the fate of the people depends on the gratitude and honor which they show the _ḳôchaks_. According to Yezidis, hell has no existence. It was created in the time of the first Adam, they say, when our father, Ibrîḳ al-Aṣfar, was born.[51] By reason of his generosity and noble deeds, Ibrîḳ had many friends. Now, when he viewed hell he became very sad. He had a small _baḳbûḳ aṣfar_,[52] into which, as he kept weeping his tears fell. In seven years it was filled. He then cast it into hell, and all its fires were put out that mankind might not be tortured. This incident relates to one of the noble deeds of our first