Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/512

 476 TUUKEY— SERVIA.

same sum, a small surplus being left. The finances of Servia have been for years in a well-regulated condition, and there is no public debt.

The army, reorganised in 18G7, consists of about 4,000 men, actually under arms. The troops comprise a .small artillery corps and 200 cavalry ; the remainder are infantry. Beyond these there is in existence a militia service, the strength of which is estimated at 70,000 men. The militia furnished by two departments of the country, those of Belgrade and of Kragujewatz, are artillerymen; the rest are infantry. There is also a newly organised volunteer service.

The area of Servia is estimated at 12,600 square miles, with a population, according to the census of 1861, of 1,098,281 inhabitants, among whom are 20,000 gipsies, 1,800 Jews, and about 2,000 Ger- man settlers. Belgrade, the capital of Servia, has a population of 14,600, exclusive of the garrison within the fortress.

Trade.

The chief trade of Servia is with Austria. Besides with this country, commercial intercourse is only carried on with Turkey and Wallachia. The trade of the principality is represented by imports from Austria and Turkey of the annual value of 500,000/., and exports, to the same countries, of 600,000/. The chief articles of export are wood, particularly oak, and pigs. The latter, which are kept in countless herds, feeding on the acorns which cover the ground for miles, are driven in large, quantities into Hungary and adjoining parts of Austria. The commercial resources of Servia are as yet wholly undeveloped, chiefly for want of roads.

Money, "Weights, and Measures.

The money, weights, and measures of the Turkish Empire, and the British equivalents, are : —

Moxey.

The Turkish Piastre. . . = Average rate of exchange, 111 piastres

to £1 sterling.

40 Paras = 1 Turkish Piastre. = 2-1604 pence. 100 Piastres = 1 Turkish Lira. — 18 shillings. The Roumanian Leu. . . = 10</., or 25 Lei to £1 sterling.

„ Servian Tax-piastre. . = 5d., or 50 to £1 sterling.

Large accounts are frequently, however, set down in ' purses' of 500 Medjidie piastres, or 5 Turkish liras. The 'purse' of former times