'A second journey through Persia, Armenia, and Asia Minor, to Constantinople, between the years 1810 and 1816. With a journal of the voyage by the Brazils and Bombay to the Persian Gulf. Together with an account of the proceedings of His Majesty's embassy under Sir Gore Ouseley, Bart. K.L.S. With two maps, and engravings from the designs of the author.' [‎357] (421/516)

ZOHAK.
An Eyd or festival peculiar to Demawend took place on the 31st
August. It is lemarkable from being unconnected, with JVIahome-
danism. Its ceremonies are designed to commemorate the death of
/johcih) the celebrated Persian tyrant, and consist of a general rejoicing,
in which all the inhabitants of the town and villages of Demawend join,
gathering together in the fields on horses, mules, and other beasts,
and riding about on the full gallop, with loud shouts. At night they
light fires on the tops of their houses, and make illuminations in all
parts of the town.
The tradition is, that Zohak had two serpents growing out of his
shoulders, which it was necessary to feed daily with human brains ; that
two men of Demawend were every morning killed for this odious pur
pose ; and that at length, a youth resolving to rid his country of such
a scourge went to slay him, and informed his townsmen, that if he
should succeed he would light a fire on the top of the neighbouring
mountain, as a signal of the tyrant's death and of his triumph. Zohak
was living near the mountain of Demawend, whither the youth repaired,
and slew him: and the illuminations are intended to commemorate the
promised fire which he lighted. This is the popular tale among the hus
bandmen ; but it is related more at length and with a larger variety of
circumstances by the Persian historian Mirkhond, in the Roset al Sefa,
which gives a greater degree of interest to the festival. It is called
the Eyd Courdi, or the Gourds' Holiday, probably from the circum
stance of its commemorating more particularly the emancipation ot
those unfortunate runaways, who had fled to the mountains to escape
the sacrifice to the tyrant, and who it is said formed the origin of the
Courdish people. *
It is pretended that the city of Demawend is one of the oldest in
Persia, that it was founded by Siamek, and that it was the seat of go
vernment of Zohak, the hero of the history already told. The ap
proaches to it are by two passes, one to the west, which is broad, and
another to the south, which is narrow, both formed by the bases of
* Vide d'Herbelot. Art. Zohak.