All legal matters are arbitrated by the Medjlis since the abolition of the various tribunals, which were founded in 1857.  One of these was for the trial of criminal causes.  It consisted of a President, and six members, and another was a commercial tribunal for the settlement of petty commercial disputes.  These have both fallen into abeyance; and, seeing that Christian evidence is not accepted in the civil causes, it is difficult to understand how the Christian population could ever have benefited, at any rate by the latter.

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Revenues and taxes.—­The revenue of the province is derived from the following sources, viz.—­

Virgu (income tax).

Monayene-askereh, or the tax paid by the Christians in lieu of military service.  It is, however, one of the grievances alleged by the Christians, who declare their willingness to serve; but as many Mussulmans would willingly pay the tax to be exempted from the chance of enlistment, the hardship applies to all parties.

Customs, tithes, excise.

The Virgu is a species of income tax, inasmuch as it is a rate levied ostensibly on the wealth of individuals; but, instead of being a per centage on the income, it has resolved itself into a mere capitation tax, and is ill-adapted, as such a tax must always be, to the relative wealth of individuals.  A certain sum was arbitrarily fixed upon to be paid by the province.  The government appears to have omitted to enquire whether the wealth of the country would enable it to pay so large a sum as that demanded.  In 1853, the tax was divided into three portions, according to the numbers of each persuasion, and has been thus collected ever since.

In the same sweeping manner these sums have been equally apportioned to each household, poor and rich paying alike.  Thus the Mussulmans, who possess nearly all the land in the province, and who are generally in affluent circumstances, but who form the smallest portion of the population, pay least.  The Virgu has been unscrupulously levied, and has given rise to much discontent, more especially among the Latins, who are the poorest classes.

These complain bitterly, and harrowing stories are told of women, about to become mothers, being compelled to pay the tax on the chance of the infant being a male.  Such things may have occurred some years ago, but the spirit of cruelty appears to have died out, or is at all events kept in the background by the Moslems of the present day.

The Monayene-askereh was first imposed when the people were relieved from the Haradj.  It is levied on males from fourteen to seventy, and was found so grievous, that the Porte has seen fit to direct that only about one-half of the original amount shall be raised.  This alleviation has existed during the last three years.

Customs.—­These consist of a duty of three per cent. ad valorem on all imports and exports to and from foreign countries, as well as the same amount demanded under the form of transit dues for goods passing from one Turkish province to another.  This has lately been reduced from 12 per cent. to its present rate.