'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎68] (95/450)

68
YEZ1D VILLAGES.
[CH. XV.
half past three. The olive woods before the \ ilLige
were extensive and the trees were fine ones, though
seemingly of a great age. A similar nood lies
before the neighbouring village ol Baazani, and
much of the olive-oil used in Mousul is the produce
of these two villages. It is principally consumed in
the manufacture of soap, not being ol a sufficiently
good quality for eating, probably from negligence in
the preparation. It lias a singular taste, but all the
Christians of this country prefer kunjut or sesamine
oil, which to a stranger is extremely offensive.
The inhabitants of Baasheka are composed of
Yezids, or, as they call themselves here, Dassini *,
and Jacobites, who have a neat-looking church.
There are also ten families ol Mahometans. 1 lie
neighbouring village of Baazani is similarly com
posed with respect to Dassinis, but the Christians
there are I believe mostly Syrian Catholics. The
houses are built of stone, and we had very tolerable
quarters in what is called the palace, or house ot the
proprietor of the village, Emin Bey, a gentleman of
Mousul, who sometimes visits it, as the people said,
" to make his keif, or enjoy himself;" that is, taste
* Dasin is another name for Sinjaar, and all the Yezids called
Dassinis seem to have been originally from Sinjaar. The others,
though professing the same faith, are never called Dassinis. Dasin
is likewise the name of a large village in the province of Hakkaria,
two or three days' journey on the other side of Amadia. r l here are
the ruins there of a convent dedicated to St. John. The village
too 1 hear is now ruined and abandoned.