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'Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia' [‎69] (84/360)

The record is made up of 1 volume (342 pages). It was created in 1872. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: Printed Collections.

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69
BAG
when these do not operate badly on the general land which is that of the
Koran and the interpretations which learned legislators have awarded to its
less intelligible doctrines. The old despotic rule has been closed for some
years; and now a Council, at which the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. usually presides, hears and
determines upon all cases. It is a mixed one of IVIahamadans and Christians,
though the latter are not sufficiently independent to do justice to their
position when the Mahamadan portion may be biassed by their creed or by
corruption to pronounce an unjust award. Though nefarious practices in
perversion of land and right are less complained of in Baghdad than in
most parts of the Turkish Empire, there are very many faults in its admi
nistration. The Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. is too poor to maintain an efficient staff in the
various departments, and the fiscal arrangements of the province as well as the
police of the towns are on the most slender and inadequate scale. Frequent
and daring robberies, as well as loss of revenue, result from want of force
to-levy the one, and the absence of efficient means to check the commission
of the other. There is in fact no system, and as long as governorships, public
lands, custom dues, and the wholesale sending of many staple articles of
commerce and food are held as monopolies by the highest bidders in the
State auction, improvement cannot be expected. Every one of course
works these with the greatest gain and least loss to himself, regardless of
the effects on individuals and the hideous consequences to the State. The
regular Army too in the province is far too small for its extent in the most
peaceable times; indeed should a serious emeute arise in Baghdad itself, the
whole force would barely suffice to put it down; and when the lawless
character of the tribes around is considered, it is a wonder indeed that such
a patch-work and threadbare form of Government can hold together at all.
The secret lies however in the opposite elements of the governed body and
the character of the general mind being too slow to work mischief, a love of
repose and a singular apathy in these people to past, present, or future events
adds to the security while it acts in an inverse ratio when we think of the
energy necessary to effect improvement.
The revenue of the Pashalic is derived from a tax on transit goods, produc
ing as follows:—
Naptha 8^ millions dollars; from dates, cotton, house rent, &c., 1^ millions;
from wheat, barley, and other grains, exclusive of the produce of the
lands farmed chiefly near Baghdad and Hillah four millions; and from the
proportion taken by the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. being one-tenth of the animals reared 8^
millions; total 12^ millions dollars. As the inferior establishments at Anah,
Hit, Hillah, and Kornah are chiefly maintained by local contributions, the
disbursements are confined almost exclusively to Baghdad itself. They
consist of the expenses of the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ^s followers, presents, salaries of State
officers, together with the maintenance of the troops organized after the
European model and the fixed revenue paid to the Sultan. Besides these
expenses considerable sums of money are privately distributed in order to
secure the allegiance of some of the Shekhs, and subsidies are paid to all
the Chiefs from whom any service is required. There is, however, in peace
able times a considerable surplus, which however is consumed when the Arab
tribes are called out.
Fontanier, who states that the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. 's accounts passed through his hands,
estimates the annual revenue of the Pashalic at about £500,600. I have
no information regarding the army of the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Baghdad. ( hesney

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Content

Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia.

The book is written by Charles Metcalfe MacGregor.

Publication Details: Calcutta: Foreign Department Press. 1872.

Extent and format
1 volume (342 pages)
Arrangement

The contents in the volume are arranged in chronological order.

Physical characteristics

Dimensions: 250 mm x 155 mm.

Pagination: 1-342.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia' [‎69] (84/360), British Library: Printed Collections, 010055.d.42/5., in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023897132.0x000055> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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