SOPHIS, or Sofees, a kind of order of religious among
the Mahometans in Persia, answering to what are other-
wise called derwises, and among the Arabs and Indians
faqirs. Some will have them called sophis from a kind
of coarse camblet which they wear, called souf, from the
city Souf in Syria, where it is principally manufactured.
The more eminent of those sophis are complimented
with the title schick, that is, reverend, much as in Ro-
mish countries the religious are called reverend fathers.
Schick Sophi, who laid the foundation of the gran-
deur of the royal house of Persia, was the founder, or
rather the restorer of this order: Ishmael, who conquer-
ed Persia, was himself a sophi, and greatly valued him-
self on his being so. He chose all the guards of his
person from among the religious of this order; and would
have all the great lords of his court sophis. The king
of Persia is still grandmaster of the order; and the lords
continue to enter into it, though it be now fallen under
some contempt.