They have another gathering which takes place at the feast of Al-Hijâjj. At this pilgrimage they go up to the mountain which is called Jabal al-‘Arafât.[56] After remaining there an hour, they hasten toward Šeiḫ ‘Adî. He who arrives there before his companions is praised much. Hence everyone tries to excel. The one who succeeds receives abundant blessings. They still have another assembly. This is called “the road of the _ḳôchaks_,” when each, putting a rope around his neck, goes up the mountain. After collecting wood they bring it to Šeiḫ ‘Adî, carrying it on their backs. The wood is used for heating purposes and for the emir’s cooking. During these assemblies the _sanjaḳs_ are passed around. In the first place they are washed with water made sour with sumac in order to be cleansed from their rust. The water is given away in drinks for purposes of blessing. In return money is taken. In the second place, the _ḳôchaks_ go around with the _sanjaḳs_ to collect money. In their preaching, the šeiḫs tell the people that all kings have come from their descent, such as Nisroch,[57] who is Nasr-ad-Dîn, and Kamuš who is Faḫr-ad-Dîn, and Artâmîs, who is Šams-ad-Dîn, and many others, as Shabur and Yoram; and many royal names of the ancient kings, together with their own (Yezidi) kings, are from their seed. The sign of the Yezidi is that he wears a shirt with a round bosom. It differs from that of the other people, the bosom of whose shirts are open all the way down. There is one occasion when no Yezidi will swear falsely, viz., when one draws a circle on the ground, and tells him that this circle belongs to Ṭâ´ûs-Melek, Šeiḫ ‘Adî, and Yezîd, and _baryshabaḳei_. He places him in the middle of the circle, and then tells him that Melek Ṭâ´ûs and all those who were mentioned above will not intercede for him after his death, and that the shirt of the Jewish Nasim[58] be on his neck, and that the hand of Nasim be on his neck and eye, and that Nasim be his brother for the next world, and let him be to him for a šeiḫ and a _pir_ if he does not tell the truth. Then if he swears to tell the truth, he cannot conceal anything. For an oath made under such conditions is considered greater than that made in the name of God, and even than that made in the name of one of their prophets. They fast three days in a year from morning till evening. The fast falls in December, according to the oriental calendar. They have no prayer[59] except what is mentioned above, such as that referring to the sun and the moon, and asking help from šeiḫs and holy places when they say, “O Šeiḫ ‘Adî, O Šeiḫ Sams,” and the like. They are all forbidden to teach their children anything, with the exception of two stanzas which they teach their children out of necessity and because it is traditional.