1.1.66 PEJK3IA

There are many colleges (medresseh), .supported by public funds, in which students are instructed in religion and Persian and Arabic literature, as well as in a certain amount of scientific knowledge, and many schools for children, while private tutors are very common, being employed by all families who have the means. A polytechnic school with a number of European professors, opened in Teheran in 1849, has done much towards introducing the knowledge of Western languages and science into Persia. There are also military colleges at Teheran and Tabriz. At Teheran there is a French school supported by the Alliance Francaise. But the bulk of the population are taught only to read the Koran. A 'political college,' Medresseh i Siasi, 'with about 50 pupils, was opened in 1900, and prepares candidates for service in the Foreign Office, which pays 133,000 krans per annum for its maintenance. Some •10 new schools have been opened at the cost of all who draw pay from the Government, regardless of class, who have to pay 1 per cent, on their emoluments for the upkeep of these schools. Medical schools have also been started under the supervision of French doctors.

Justice.

The Minister of J imtice, assisted by an Advisory Council, composed of a legal adviser, the Attorney General, Chief of the High Court of Appeal. and three of the chief directors of the Ministry of Justice, endeavours t" supervise the organisation and the proper function of justice in Persia. The 'Jurisconsult" of the Ministry of Justice is a Frenchman, who has now also been made the Chief of the " Kcole des Droits.

There are in every town of Persia police magistrates, and in big towns tribunals which deal with cases coming within tho sphere of public Attd criminal laws. There are also courts of appeal in big towns and a High Court of Appeal in Teheran which is similar to the Cotir de Caused France.

Finance.

The revenue for 1911-12 amounted to 2,042,850/, and the expenditure to 1,608,600/. In 1912-13 the revenue amounted to 1,055,792/., and iu 1913-14 to 1,480,778/. These are the latest available figures.

More than half of the revenue consists of payments in cash or kind raised by assessments upon towns, villages, and districts, each of which has to contribute a fixed sum, the amount of which is changed from time to time by tax-assessors (mumayiz) appointed by the Government. Almost the entire burthen of taxation lies upon the labouring classes.

Approximate gross Cttstdrns mvipts for three years (£1 - ■■ 34 Krans in 1916 17 ; X1--30 Knuisin 1 1)1 7- -IS; and X'l -'2H Krans in 1018-*!

-

mm a

J

1 8 i -

Northern /one :—

^

£

Azerbaijan (Tabriz) .

A.4ani

74,600

27,071

Ctiilan (Knzfli) ....

mi

t»,00»)

Mcsheiliriar

l .

u, mo

1,1 JO

BgluleKgUeX

i 1.031

ICliorass.HTi

" 105.'

82,740

Kflrmansliah and Ilamadun

!■■

12,400

148,08*

Southern Zone :—

IftrMitH

I i .'.

20m

Ml ,W0

BmnUir Abbas

WJ.Min

14;',

.M' plinminci all

KsuMi

Teheran

Total

846,474

805,000

1,074,140