Mustafa Cemil Efendi

Born in Bursa in 1833/34 (AH 1249), Mustafa Cemil Efendi came from the İslam community. At about 10, in 1843/44, Mustafa Cemil began work in Bursa, on a first salary of 50 kuruş. Only 47 of the 5,664 officials whose age at first work is known began work at 10 or younger. The first annual entry, for 1843/44, places Mustafa Cemil in Bursa, the birthplace, in the correspondence office (Tahrirat Kalemi). For 1844 to 1846 the lists have no entry. The last entries, from 1846 to 1880, name Mustafa Cemil as kalem mezbure, with no place. The lists have no entry for 1854 to 1856. For 1880 to 1885 the lists have no entry. In place of a title the lists give Tekaud for 1885/86. Few careers in the lists are as long; fewer than 3 per cent of the 8,239 officials have entries spanning 45 years or more.

The salary went from 50 kuruş a month in 1843/44 to 2,750 in 1857/58, the peak, when 87 per cent of paid officials earned less. In all, 32 years of salary come to 461,748 kuruş, 2.8 times what an official on the median salary earned in those years. The last annual entry is for 1885/86.