1. Šeiḫ. He is the servant of the tomb, and a descendant of Imam Ḥasan al-Baṣrî. No one can give a legal decision or sign any document except the šeiḫ who is the servant of Šeiḫ ‘Adî’s tomb. He has a sign by which he is distinguished from others. The sign is a belt which he puts on his body, and net-like gloves, which resemble the halters of camels. If he goes among his people, they bow down and pay him their respects. The šeiḫs sell a place in paradise to anyone who wishes to pay money. 2. Emir. The emirship specifically belongs to the descendants of Yezîd. They have a genealogical tree, preserved from their fathers and forefathers, which goes up to Yezîd himself. The emirs have charge of the temporal and governmental affairs, and have the right to say, “Do this and do not that.” 3. ḳawwâl. He has charge of tambourines and flutes and religious hymns. 4. Pîr. To him appertain the conduct of fasts, the breaking of fasts, and hair-dressing. 5. Kôchak. To him appertain the duties of religious instruction, and sepulture, and interpretation of dreams, i. e., prophecy. 6. Faḳîr. To him appertain the duties of instruction of boys and girls in playing on the tambourines, in dancing and religious pleasure. He serves Šeiḫ ‘Adî. 7. Mulla. To him appertain the duties of instructing children. He guards the books and the mysteries of religion and attends to the affairs of the sect. ARTICLES OF FAITH At one time (A. H. 1289; A. D. 1872), the Ottoman power wanted to draft from among them an army instead of taking the tax which was its due. They presented to the government all the rules that prevented them from complying. These all pertain to religion and are moral obligations upon them. They are as follows: ARTICLE I According to our Yezidi religion every member of our sect, whether big or little, girl or woman, must visit Melek Ṭâ´ûs three times a year, that is, first, from the beginning to the last of the month of April, Roman calendar; secondly, from the beginning to the end of the month of September; thirdly, from the beginning to the end of the month of November. If anyone visit not the image of Melek Ṭâ´ûs, he is an infidel. ARTICLE II If any member of our sect, big or little, visit not his highness Šeiḫ ‘Adî bn Musâfir—may God sanctify his mysteries! once a year, i. e., from the fifteenth to the twentieth of the month of September, Roman calendar, he is an infidel according to our religion. ARTICLE III Every member of our sect must visit the place of the sunrise every day when it appears, and there should not be Moslem, nor Christian, nor any one else in that place. If any one do this not, he is an infidel. ARTICLE IV Every member of our sect must daily kiss the hand of his brother, his brother of the next world, namely, the servant of the Mahdi, and the hand of his šeiḫ or _pîr_. If any one do this not, he is regarded as an infidel. ARTICLE V