690
PEESIA.
same by his successors and the high priesthood. The Shah is regarded as vice-regent of the Prophet, and it is as such that he claims implicit obedience. Under him, the executive government is carried on by a ministry, formerly consisting of but two high functionaries, the Vizier- Azein, or grand vizier, and the Ameen-a- Doulah, or lord treasurer, but in more recent times divided into ten departments, alter the European fashion. However, the grand vizier and lord treasurer are still by far the most important members of the executive, the vizier directing the whole foreign policy of the governmeat, and acting as commander-in-chief of the army in the absence or as substitute of the sovereign, and the treasurer superin- tending the home administration and the collection of the revenue.
The country is divided for administrative and other purposes into twenty provinces, each under the rule of a Beglerbeg, or civil and military governor, usually a member of the royal family. The pro- vinces again are subdivided into districts, superintended by a Hakim, or governor-lieutenant, whose chief duty is the collection of the revenue. There is a certain amount of self-government in towns and villages, the citizens of the former electing, at fixed times, a Ketkhodah, or magistrate, and of the latter a Muhuleh, who administer justice, and also serve as organs of intercommunication between the people and the government.
The vast majority of the inhabitants of Persia are Mahometans, the total number of dissenters not amounting to more than about 7-4,000. The latter consist of Armenians, Nestorians, Jews, and Guebres, or Parsees. The Armenian population is estimated at 4,6G0 families, or 26,035 souls; the Nestorians — including both Protestants and persons who have joined the Roman Catholic Church, about 3,500 and 600 families respectively — at 4,100 families, or 25,000 souls; the Jews at 16,000 souls; and the Guebres at 1,200 families, or 7,190 souls.
The Mahometans of Persia are of the sect called Shiites or Sheahs, differing to some extent in religious doctrine, and more in historical belief, lrorn the inhabitants of the Turkish empire, who are called Sunnites. The Persian priesthood consist of many orders, the chief of them at the present time being that of Mooshtehed, of whom there are but five in number in the whole country. Vacancies in this post are filled nominally by the members of the order, but in reality by the public voice, and the Shah himself is excluded from all power of appointment. Next in rank to the Mooshtehed is the Sheik-ul-Islam, or ruler of the faith, of whom there is one in every large town, nominated by, and receiving his salary from, the go- vernment. Under these dignitaries there are three classes of ministers of religion, the Mooturelle, one for each mosque or place of pilgrimage ; the Muezzin, or Bayer of prayers, and the Mollah, or
