Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/491

Rh and Armenians, and the 'Chacham-Baschi,' or high-rabbi of the Jews, possess, in consequence of those functions, considerable political power and independence.

Throughout Turkey, the ministers of religion are subordinate to the civil authorities, who exercise over them the power of diocesans. Magistrates may supersede and remove clergymen who misconduct themselves, or who are unequal to the proper discharge of the duties of their office. The magistrates themselves may also, whenever they think proper, perform all the sacerdotal functions. Owing to the fact that the Koran constitutes the code of law and charter of rights, as well as the religious guide of the followers of Mahomet, there is a close connection between the ministers of religion and the professors and interpreters of the law. Both together form the class of 'Ulema,' governed by the 'Sheïk-ul-Islam,' the former being called 'Mollahs,' and the latter 'Muftis.' The members of the 'Ulema' go through the same course of education, based on the thorough knowledge of the Koran and the 'Multeka;' but though they all study together, the lawyers and judges are quite distinct from the clergy, it being left to every young man brought up in one of the colleges of the order to determine for himself, when he has attained a proper age and acquired a sufficient stock of learning, wether he will become a priest, or a doctor of law, or a judge.

The members of the Ulema constitute a form of aristocracy. They pay no taxes or public imposts, and, by a peculiar privilege, their property is hereditary in their families, and is not liable to arbitrary confiscations. Their persons are sacred; their blood may on no account be shed; nor can they be legally punished in any way but by imprisonment and exile. However, the power and dignity of the ulemas are not hereditary in individuals, but in the order. Formerly they held their offices for life; but about the end of the seventeenth century they were made removable at pleasure, like other public functionaries. But each individual enjoys all the privileges of the order, independently of his holding any office, or exercising any public employment. Besides the ulema, there is a priestly class limited to the descendants of Mahomet by his daughter Fatima. These are called 'oomra,' or ameers, and are authorised to wear green turbans. They are very numerous, and are found in the lowest ranks of life.

The Koran and Multeka encourage public education, and, as a consequence, public schools have been long established in most considerable Turkish towns, while 'medresses,' or colleges, with public libraries, are attached to the greater number of the principal mosques. But the instruction afforded by these establishments is rather limited. The pupils are chiefly taught to read and write the first elements of the Turkish language; the class-books