DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0361
CllAI". XIX.]
PRICK OP PROVISIONS.
331
of office. The price was subsequently raised to 100 purses,
which he had also paid, but last year he was called upon
for 200 purses, or 1000Z. Being a native of the place,
and unwilling to pay so large a sum, which he must have
extracted from the pockets of his fellow-townsmen by op-
pressive means, he declined any longer to hold the situation,
and retired into private life. This system of selling offices,
great as well as small, is one of the greatest drawbacks to
the prosperity of this empire; for, although it may be an
expeditious mode of collecting revenue, it is clear that but a
small proportion of those 60 or 100 purses can find their way
to Constantinople, the rest being absorbed by the wants of
the Mutzellim of Amasia and by the Pacha of Siwas, who
has purchased the chief government in the first instance from
the Porte. Besides which, additional taxes are often arbi-
trarily imposed upon particular districts. Great complaints
were made by the inhabitants of the high price of pro-
visions; wheat cost 170 piastres the kilo, and oats 110:
the kilo here consisting of 26 batmans of 6 okes each.*
Meat must be an exception to the general rule, as beef
costs 32 paras,| and mutton GO paras the oke. Another
cause of complaint was that the rediff, or militia, had been
lately drafted into and incorporated with the army.
* The oke being 2£ lbs., (be batman equals 131 lbs., and the kilo 351 lbs. 170
piastres equalled at the then exchange 11. Us.; the piastre being equal to 2. or
"early 2.1;/.; the price of wheat was therefore nearly five farthings per lb., or 46s.
per quarter.
t 40 paras equal to one piastre, or 2^.; 32 paras equal to 2d, for 2J lbs. of
heef.
PRICK OP PROVISIONS.
331
of office. The price was subsequently raised to 100 purses,
which he had also paid, but last year he was called upon
for 200 purses, or 1000Z. Being a native of the place,
and unwilling to pay so large a sum, which he must have
extracted from the pockets of his fellow-townsmen by op-
pressive means, he declined any longer to hold the situation,
and retired into private life. This system of selling offices,
great as well as small, is one of the greatest drawbacks to
the prosperity of this empire; for, although it may be an
expeditious mode of collecting revenue, it is clear that but a
small proportion of those 60 or 100 purses can find their way
to Constantinople, the rest being absorbed by the wants of
the Mutzellim of Amasia and by the Pacha of Siwas, who
has purchased the chief government in the first instance from
the Porte. Besides which, additional taxes are often arbi-
trarily imposed upon particular districts. Great complaints
were made by the inhabitants of the high price of pro-
visions; wheat cost 170 piastres the kilo, and oats 110:
the kilo here consisting of 26 batmans of 6 okes each.*
Meat must be an exception to the general rule, as beef
costs 32 paras,| and mutton GO paras the oke. Another
cause of complaint was that the rediff, or militia, had been
lately drafted into and incorporated with the army.
* The oke being 2£ lbs., (be batman equals 131 lbs., and the kilo 351 lbs. 170
piastres equalled at the then exchange 11. Us.; the piastre being equal to 2. or
"early 2.1;/.; the price of wheat was therefore nearly five farthings per lb., or 46s.
per quarter.
t 40 paras equal to one piastre, or 2^.; 32 paras equal to 2d, for 2J lbs. of
heef.