1126

PERSIA

more been dropped (November, 1912). The executive government is carried on under a Cabinet composed of eight members (January 16, 1913) : —

Premier. — Ala-es-Sultaneh.

Minister for Foreign Ajfairs. — Vosukh-ed-Dowleh.

Minister of Interior. — Fin-ed-Dowleh.

Minister of Education. — Musbir-ed-Dowleh.

Minister of Posts and Telegraphs. — Musteshar-ed-Dowleh.

Minister of Justice. — Momtaz-ed-Dowleh.

Minister of Jf^rt?\ — Mustaufil Mamalik.

Minister of Finance. — Kavamo Sultaneh.

The country is divided into thirty-three provinces, which are governed by governors-general, who are directly responsible to the central Govern- ment, and can nominate the lieutenant-governors of the districts com- prised in their own governments-general. Some of the governments-general are very small, and do not bear subdivision into districts, &c. ; others are very large, and comprise several provinces. Governors-general and lieutenant- governors are generally called Hakim, the former also often have the title of Wall, Ferman Ferma, &c. A lieutenant-governor is sometimes called Naib el-Hukumah ; one of a small district is a Zabit. Every town has a mayor or chief magistrate called Kalantar, or Darogha, or Beglerbegi. Every quarter of a town or parish, and every village, has a chief who is called Kedkhoda. These officers, whose chief duty is the collection of the revenue, are generally appointed by the lieutenant-governors, but sometimes elected by the citizens. Most of the governors have a vizir or a pishkar, a man of experience, to whom are entrusted the accounts and the details of the government. The chiefs of nomad tribes are called Ilkhani, Ilbegi, Wall, Serdar, Sheikh, Tushmal ; they are responsible for the collection of the revenues to the governors of the province in which their tribe resides.

A law of May, 1907, provides for the election of rural and town councils. In these elections practically all subjects have a right to vote, and the councils will be in direct communication Avith the National Council.

On August 31, 1907, Great Britain and Ru.ssia agreed between themselves to limit the spheres of their respective interests in Persia to the Persian provinces adjoining the Russian frontier on the one hand, and the British frontier on the other. The two Powers respect the integrity and independence of Persia, but, at the same time, contemplate the possible necessity of financial control in conformity with the principles of the agreement. The approximate area, population, and customs revenue of each of the three spheres are given as follows : —

British sphere . Russian sphere Neutral sphere

Area sq. miles

137,000 305,000 188,000

Population

Net Revenue Customs

690,000 6,900,000 1,910.000

50,000 305,000 180,000

Area and Population.

According to the latest and most trustworthy estimates, the country — extending for about 700 miles from north to south, and for 900 miles from east to west — contains an area of 628,000 square miles. A vast portion of this area is an absolute desert, and the population is everywhere so scanty as not to exceed, on the average, fifteen inhabitants to the

square mile,