'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎555] (646/905)

CHAP. XXI.]
TENURES.
555
considered as open to a bribe, and ready to oppress the people in Administration
order to increase his own wealth ; yet the exactions are fairly of iu8tice "
apportioned by persons acquainted with the means possessed
by each individual. Moreover, in civil as well as in criminal
cases, a salutary check is caused by the publicity of an open
investigation, and by the influential effects of the Koran. The
Ayans, Mutesellims, and other chiefs adjudicate trifling and
even serious matters, whether criminal or civil, subject, how
ever, to an appeal which, in some instances, is made to the
authority of the Sultan, but ordinarily to the Mekemeh, a
court of common law, annually held in the principal towns
under a Kadi, sent by the Sheikh-ul-Islam from Constanti
nople ; these Kadis appoint deputies to preside in courts held
in other towns for the adjudication of causes. The Koran is
the recognised guide in all cases of difficulty; but throughout
Syria, as elsewhere in Turkey, capital offences are rare, and those
of a trifling nature are prevented or punished by the cavasses,
who are organized in almost every town for this purpose.
The tenure of lands and other property in Syria is well Law of entails,
ascertained, and the holdings as well as the transfers are care
fully registered. Certain tracts which were not cultivated in
the time of Selim still belong to the Sultan, and are annually
farmed to the highest bidder. Vakou or entails are common
in Syria, and are made by private individuals either to endow
mosques, khans, or other public institutions; or, as with us,
to confer property on the eldest sons and next heirs. Real
property, such as arable land, gardens, vineyards, buildings,
&c., goes by inheritance first to the son and grandson, next
to the father and grandfather, then to the brother, followed
by his son, next to the uncle, followed by the cousin. A
husband's claim is allowed after these; and lastly, any indivi
dual becomes the heir of the slave on whom he may have
bestowed freedom.
In addition to the taxes previously existing, the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Excise and
Egypt levied excise and custom duties on grain and other
imports to the amount, in some instances, of 10 per cent, on
the latter. Animals carrying goods were likewise subject to a
payment called Paatch for the repair of roads; there were
4 B 2