CONDITION OF THE AGRICULTURAL POPULATION OF PERSIA.

Southland Times, Issue 3341, 6 March 1879, Page 3

CONDITION OF THE AGRICULTURAL POPULATION OF PERSIA.

Consul Churchill, in his report on the trade of Ghilan iv 1877, gives an interesting account of the condition of the people in that part of Persia. 11l ling a rich, fertile soil, they get an ample portion of the produce of the land for their pains. If they engage to clear a piece of jungle, they divide the produce of' the land with the owner of the soil.' If mulberry trees "are planted, any silk produced, the peasant rears the worms and gets a third of the produce for his trouble. As little supervision can be exercised over the villager, he naturally contrives to secure for himself a good portion of the crops. He has advantages from his agricultural vocation, which are not inconsiderable. He can cut down wood in the jungle— that is, the neglected part of his landowner's estates — and sell it on his own account. His cows and. sheep -can browse f rcfily in those parts that are not under cultivation. He can make charcoal, produce Vegetables around his hut, rear and sell poultry/and dispose of the fruit which grows in abundance on the estate, without consulting the owner of the land. The taxes are not farmed out. in Persia as , they are in the Ottoman Empire, and though the" collectors contrive, as a matter of course, to extract some 10 or 20 -per cent, more than they are entitled to from the tax payers, they are satisfied if those limits are not exceeded,; and there really is not a system of oppression, though here and there cases occur in which complaints are made, to the superior authorities. When the tax-gatherer grows rich, he is pounced upon by the, Governor, who makes him disgorge, and who, in his turn, is called upon by the Shah, to pay large presents on his appointment, or heavy fines for reported , malversations. It has been calculated that in India the income • of the native peasantry averages £2 a year ; in Ghilan it is from £5 to £9. IJRice, the principal food, is abundant, and very cheap. Mutton is at 3d, and beef, liner lb.