On the basis of these scanty bits of fact, it appears that: The Yezidis were originally a Ḫarijite[24] sub-sect, akin to the Abadiya, bearing the name of their founder, Yezîd bn Unaisa. Certain distinctive Ḫarijite peculiarities seem indeed to have outlived among them the common faith of Islam; such as the tolerant judgment of Jews and Christians; the condemnation of every sin as implicit idolatry. In their new seats in Kurdistan, whither they migrated about the end of the fourteenth century[25] they were drawn into the movement of which Šeiḫ ‘Adî was in his life time the leader and after his death the saint, and ended by making of him the incarnation of God in the present age.[26] With this they joined elements drawn from Christianity,[27] with here and there a trace of Judaism, and with large survivals of the persistent old Semitic heathenism, many of which they share with their neighbors of all creeds. Difficult problems,[28] however, remain unsolved, especially the origin and nature of the worship of Melek Ṭâ´ûs.[29] The certain thing is that the actual religion of the Yezidis is a syncretism, to which Moslem, Christian (heretical, rather than orthodox), pagan, and perhaps also Persian religions have contributed.[30] NOTES ON THE INTRODUCTION [1] Al-Jilwah is said to have been written in 558 A. H., by Šeiḫ Faḫr-ad-Dîn, the secretary of Šeiḫ ‘Adî, at the dictation of the latter. The original copy, wrapped in linen and silk wrappings, is kept in the house of Mulla Ḥaidar, of Baadrie. Twice a year the book is taken to Šeiḫ ‘Adî’s shrine. (Letter from Šammas Jeremia Šamir to Mr. A. N. Andrus, of Mardin, dated October 28, 1892.) [2] The Black Book is said to have been written by a certain Ḥasan al-Baṣrî, in 743 A. H. The original copy is kept in the house of Kehyah (chief) ‘Ali, of Kasr ‘Az-ad-Dîn, one hour west of Semale, a village east of Tigris. The book rests upon a throne, having over it a thin covering of red broadcloth, of linen, and other wrappings. Then is disclosed the binding, which is of wood. [3] The exact number of the Yezidis is unknown. See also Société de Géographie de l’Est, _Bulletin_, 1903, p. 284; Al Mašriḳ, II, 834. [4] For a fuller account of the literature on the Yezidis, consult J. Menant, _Les Yézidis_, and Paul Perdrizet, Société de Géographie de l’Est, _Bulletin_, 1903, pp. 281 ff. [5] Société de Géographie de l’Est, _Bulletin_, 1903, p. 297. [6] Fraser, _Mesopotamia and Persia_, pp. 285, 287; Rich, _Residence in Kurdistan_, II, 69; _Al Mašriḳ_, II, 396; Badger, _The Nestorians and their Rituals_, I, 111; Assemani, _Bibliotheca Orientalis_, III, 439. [7] Michel Febvre, _Theatre de la Turquie_, p. 364; Société de Géographie de l‘Est, _Bulletin_, 1903, pp. 299, 301; cf. also J. Menant, _Les Yézidis_, pp. 52, 86, 132.