'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.' [‎121] (154/450)

CH. XVII.]
MEANING OF DASINI.
121
inquired from a number of Yezids the meaning of
the word Dasini. In finding out the precise mean
ing he lias failed, but he has ascertained the exact
application of it. It is applied by the Yezids to the
peasant Yezids under the government of Mousul and
the vicinity : never to the Sinjarlis, who are called
collectively, Jenu. (q. Jelu ?) Some other Yezids
in these parts, who are distinct from the peasant
race, are called Sheikhanlis. On the frontiers of
Jezira, Amadia, and Mousul are the Mussessan and
Dinnedi tribes— all true Yezids. The name Yezid
is only used by the neighbouring Mahometans ; the
Yezids themselves never use the term. It seems to
be an epithet of reproach, from Yezid, surnamed by
He died, after a ministry of thirty-three years, from a.d. 48 to 82.
St. Thomas, whose surname, according to some, was Jude, not only
was the apostle of the Syrians and Chaldeans, but also of the Par-
thians, Persians. Medes, and Indians. It has been doubted whether
St. Thomas himself ever penetrated into India; Assemanni decides
in the affirmative. Christianity appears at a very early period to
have gained ground; for about the time of Papas, Bishop of Seleu-
cia, or from 247 to 326, we find already a great schism in that
church, the origin of which is attributed to the arrogance of Papas.
Twenty-two bishops are mentioned as having suffered martyrdom
under Shapor. When Christianity was first preached in the East,
, Artabanes was king of the Parthians ; Izates of Adiabene; and
Ahgarus of Edessa. In the first century the churches of the
East were already considerable enough to become an object of the
Persian kings' persecution. In the second century Trajan perse
cuted the Oriental Christians in his expedition. In the third
century the Manichscan heresy commenced : in the fourth, the per
secution of Shapor began, a.u . 330. Nestorius was condemned by
the Synod of Ephesus in 431.