which had never quite lost adherents. These last are the more interesting section: in century XI. after the death of mad Hakim of Egypt a religion was preached in the Lebanon which has lasted till to-day. He too was a 'vehicle of deity,' and had not died but only disappeared. His envoy Darazi preached this creed with success among the tribes which were to bear the name 'Druze.'[1] Here in addition to the influences of which we have spoken, there is a distinct neo-Platonic current. God makes himself known by a series of avatars; and the number is raised from 7 to 70, Caliph Hakim being the last of these embodiments. Our Lord finds a place in the list but Mahomet is excluded.
The visible world emanates from the Divine Reason: Hakim here takes the place of Ali as its vehicle. But underneath this theology a pure nature-worship is still carried on: there are shrines on the hill-top in Hauran and sacred stones; goats are sacrificed in secret to an evil spirit; a calf's image is said to be kept in a niche, and traces of phallic cult are confidently spoken of.
14. The Nosairis are much more faithful to Ali: he is the last avatar of God in the seventh and last world-age: 'I bear witness,' says the initiated, 'that there is no god but Ali ibn abu Talib,' who is Mana, idea, (
Greek characters). Ali created Mahomet, and the two together with Salman ul Farisi form a trinity. One division (the Shamalis) identify these with heaven, sun, and moon—a very clear proof that Elyun is in their minds. The good Nosairi go to the stars, the bad suffer a longer series of transmigration; but even the good have (like Istar and the Gnostics) to be transformed seven times before they can reach heaven. Like the Ismaili in general they divide the world-history into seven ages corresponding to the seven planets of later Chaldeism: in each appears an embodiment of deity.
- ↑ Surely the acme of absurdity is reached when we are referred in Hastings' Dict. Tel. Eth., under the heading "Druses," to Sects (Christian)!
