'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎41r] (86/706)

azarbaijan
69
proportionate to the cash payments of the “ Asl” revenue, and is the per
qmsite of the Governors. It ranges from | to 5 or 6 Iran per tuman
i.e., if a man pays to the Government as revenue 10 tumans in cash he
must pay in addition perhaps 50 or 60 hrdns to the Governor. The “ far ”
tax has gradually come to be accepted by the people. It is made the
source of much exaction, each Governor making what he can out of it
sometimes even forcing the village to pay as “ far ” three or four times the
amount of the “Asl” revenue. The troops are also exploited in the
interest of the Governor, only a percentage of the amounts noted in the
memorandum as payable to the troops really finds its way to the proper
quarter ; so with buildings, repairs, pensions. 1
Maku and the adjoining districts of Awajik and Kara Aineh (q. v ) are
under the control of hereditary chiefs. The Government of the heredi
tary Chiefs differs in some respects from the foregoing. They are prac-
Hereditary Chiefs. tically independent, and except for small
j-iii , , , annual payments in cash and kind contribute
little towards the general expenses of the province. The taxation is re
gulated much on the same principle, though the amounts may differ in
degree ; for example, those villages in Maku which have come to the
chief by inheritance pay different rates from those obtained later from the
throne by purchase.
The following will give some notion of the relative taxation.
Maku village proper :—
Cotton pays in proportion of ..
Wheat
House tax ..
Royal property purchased—
Cotton pays in proportion of ..
Wheat „
Barle y „
Cattle pay a small tax.
Men and boys pay a head tax.
An additional tax is also levied as “ far.”
The nomads a,re taxed differently ; the tax takes the form of a house
to house demand; m Maku it comes to 1 medjidieh. Each aroup of tents
also contributes a small amount of oil, namads and horse clothing to the
1
in 5
1
„ 5
5
tumdns.
1
in 3
i
„ 3
1
„ 3
As regards the well being and status of the peasant, the conditions of
life in the Government provinces or in the chiefs’ territories are much
alike The people are fairly well off though robbed to the last degree
but they are at last beginning to realise what good government "and
order nie&n, 3»nd are discontented, with, their own rulers.
The frontier along the north-west from Julfa to Ararat, adjoining that
Frontier policy of Persia. Russia, offers little subject of dispute. The
. , lme of demarcation is strictly defined, whilst
the cession of lands, south of ’Abbasabad, has removed any claim of Russia
to further extension south of the Aras. Such disputes as arise are due to