ervant
will be sent with authority to demand and take same. The less noble of
the Say-yids go personally to the homes vineyards and gardens and
gather their portion. Sometimes there might be seen no less than ten
Say-yids going to vineyards for this purpose. Generally they ask
nothing from Christians, as their law restrains them and they are
ashamed to ask of other religions.

I once met a Say-yid in my father's vineyard and he asked a portion. I
refused, telling him that I myself was also a Say-yid _i.e._, a
Christian Say-yid, and asked if one Say-yid should receive something
from another. He laughed, and said: "yes sir, sometimes." I gave him
three pounds of raisins. These Say-yids are in only the Shiites branch
of Islam. In later years their honor is decreased; the government is
against them. Some of them are very religious. Two of them in the city
of Ispha-han were converted to Christianity and suffered martyrdom. One
has been converted to Christianity in my city, Oroomiah. He is one of
the most spiritual men among Christians.

THE DARWISHES.

Shiites Mohammedanism rests upon two pillars one of which is Darwishes.
This is one of the most holy orders of the Musalmans. It corresponds to
the monasticism of Christianity. It contains several degrees, such as
asceticism, mandicanism, etc. It is a volunteer consecration to Allah
and his prophet, except in cases in which parents had dedicated their
sons to the order. There are numerous instances in which women without
children made a vow to Allah that if given a son they would consecrate
him to God to be a Darwish. This order contains members from all
classes, high and low, rich and poor, and even from the royal family.
Celibacy is not required but they are taught that it is far better for
them not to marry.

[Illustration: HIGH-CLASS DERVISH.]

THEIR CHARACTER.

A Darwish is expected to be and usually is humble, kind and liberal,
ready to serve any man. He must suffer all the trouble of life and live
in an humble condition because this is holiness. He is required to be
well informed in all religious stories, tradition, and Koran, and
particularly in the poetical writings of Maw-le-wee order, which is
their own order, founded by An-wa-ree the father of the Darwishes. Some
of the members know from one to five thousand of these sacred poems.
Most of them are sufficiently educated to read. The Darwishes are the
most faithful, honest and pure of all the followers of