The Chiefs Decide All Disputes Among Their Own Followers
According To The Feeble Knowledge Which They Possess Of The Turkish
Laws; But Appeals From Their Tribunal May Be Made To That Of The Grand
Chief.
The whole Ryhanlu tribe is tributary to Tshapan Oglu, the
powerful governor of the eastern part of Anatolia, who resides at
Yuzgat.
They pay him an annual tribute of six thousand two hundred and
fifteen piastres, in horses, cattle, &c. He claims also the right of
nominating to the vacant places of chieftains; but his influence over
the Turkman Ryhanlu having of late much diminished, this right is at
present merely nominal. The predecessors of Hayder Aga used to receive
their Firmahn of nomination, or rather of confirmation, from the Porte.
When the tribute for Tshapan Oglu is collected, Hayder Aga generally
gives in an account of disbursements incurred during the preceding year
for the public service, such as presents to officers of the Porte
passing through the camp, expenses of entertaining strangers of rank,
&c. &c. The tribute, as well as Hayder Aga’s demands, are levied from
the tribes according to the repartition of the minor Agas; and each
chief takes that opportunity of adding to the sum to which his tribe is
assessed, four or five hundred piastres, which make up his only income
as chief. The Turkmans do not pay any Miri, or general land tax to the
Grand Signor, for the ground they occupy. Families, if disgusted with
their chief, often pass from one tribe to another without any one daring
to prevent their departure.
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