284

THE TAESCHNER COLLECTION (Or. 12.426, cont.)

(125b-146a). They are mostly preceded by a heading beginning with the term 'sürat' and end with the number 209, probably the year 1209 (1794-5). The main subject discussed in the letters is the continuation (ibka), appointment (tevcih) or promotion (terfl*) of state officials in a wide range of ranks, or granting of pensions and other types of income to them, in all parts of the Ottoman Empire. Most letters are preceded by brief captions in red, indicating the type of letter, type of functions and income, as well as place names. Some letters are accompanied by (series of) variations of certain paragraphs, depending on varying circumstances, as well as later additions, or, occasionally replies to the letters in question. The first series of letters, dealing with the careers of viziers, governors, ni§ancis, jannisary officers, fortress commanders and other functionaries, from Ethiopia (8b) to Tiblls (80a) - but there is no clear logic in the series of place names, not in the datings which sometimes occur - these contain years ranging from 1192/1778 (64a) to 1222/1807-8 (71a). A folded leaf of slightly smaller format has been added between ff. 36 and 39; it contains a letter concerning the appointment of a humbaraciba^i (colonel in the corps of bombardiers, 37a), and various phrases, written upside down and partly crossed out (38b). Another folded sheet has been bound between ff. 59 and 60; it contains a draft letter concerning the payment of an annual stipend of 430.5 kuru$ in compensation for the abolition of the sancak of Batum, dated 25 Cemagf l-ewel 1149 (13 November 1732). The following series concerns the careers of ‘ulema (a heading with the term 'ulemd-i kiram teveccühi bakï’ is found on f. 81a), followed by a list of placenames arranged in four groups and written in red as well as an ‘unvan formula on the samp, page. Years found here are [1] 194/1780 (88a, 95b) and [1]204/1789-90 (95a). The third series concern annual stipends (salyane, ff. 101a-110a), with years between [1J192/1778 (109a) and [1J226/1811 (105b). A fourth series concerns appointments in the sancak of §av§ad, to hass tenure, and in the admiralty (tersdne), including annual stipends, ff. lllb-123a, between [1]022 ( = 1222?, 122b) and [l]202/1787-8 (112b, 123a). A following series, the fifth, contains a mixture of letters concerning the §eyhiilharemeyn, Egypt, defter ketbiiddliks and others, ff. 125b-137a, dated between [1] 188/1774-5 (132a) and [1]211/1796-7 (137a). A small piece of stiff paper with a preamble of a letter addressed to an emir (written in nk'a) is found between ff. 128 and 129. Another series, lacking (original) foliation, starts on f. 146a, and is headed ‘orders written at the chancery (beylik odasi)’; it is preceded by a letter sent by a vizier, with a sketchy signature, a penge with three tugs (145b). The letters discuss various sujects, from appointments to ‘an order of exile’ (to Magosa [Famagusta], issued