'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎20] (27/714)

XX
PERSIA
and conversation-The Naib-es-Sultaneh-Eest of the
its functions—Present condition—minimis -
Sultan—The Amin-ed-Dowleh—The Kawam-ed-Dowleh—Yahia Khan
Mushir-ed-Dowleh—Other ministers—The Amir-i-Nizam- Ihe Sahi
Diwan—Council of Five .
CHAPTEK XIV
THE GOVERNMENT
An absolute monarchy -Modern pretensions—Real curtailment of preroga
tive Effective restraints Administrative hierarchy—Modifications of
royal power—Administrative divisions—System of purchase and of
presents— Mudakhil —Practical illustrations—Effect on the peasantry
Reasons of popular acquiescence—Meagreness of official salaries
Duration in office— Pishkesh or gifts—The Royal Tihelat —Extraordinary
pishhesh —Corrupt administration—Neglect of public works—Hosts of
retainers—Bureaucracy—Salaries and titles—Twofold division of Law—
Shar or Ecclesiastical Law—Abridgment of authority—Urf or Common
Law—Civil cases and arbitration—Pains and penalties—Prisons—De
fects and abuses of the system Attempts at reform—Royal Proclama
tion of Freedom of Life and Property- Proposed codification of the
l a \v—Effect on national character ........
Ambiguous panorama—Petition-boxes—Scheme of chapter—Letter-Post—
Electric Telegraph—Newspapers—Their history, past and present—
French papers—The coinage—Government Mint—Modern currency—
Circulation of gold—Need of European banks—New Oriental Bank—
Imperial Bank of Persia—Terms of concession—Opening of premises—
Monopoly of bank-notes—Ancient experiment of the Mongol Modern
opinion—Notes of the Imperial Bank—First year of existence—The
Renter Concession of 1872—Its rescission—Reasons of failure—Con-
cession-mongers—Recent schemes—Roads in the East—Need in Persia
—Existing carriage-roads—Minor roads— Chapar routes—Pack-roads—
New Teheran-Shushter road—Projected roads—Road-making policy—
Messrs. Andreas and Stolze—Persian education—Primary schools-
Secondary education—Royal College at Teheran—Management and
discipline—Provincial colleges—Limited scope—Religious questions—
The Babi movement—Later developments—Modern proselytism—Perse
cution—Heroism—Not a political movement—Religious tenets—Ob
servances—Future of Babism—Persia as a field for Christian Missions
—History of Christianity—Religious liberty in Persia—Source of hos
tility—Practical results—The strength of Islam—The Jews in Persia—
Backward condition—Disabilities and persecution—Summary
CHAPTER XV
INSTITUTIONS AND REFORMS