Mehmet Zihni Efendi

Mehmet Zihni Efendi was born in Niš (Niş) in 1841/42 (AH 1257). The record gives the community as Muslim (Müslüman) and the nationality as Turkish.

Schooling recorded: Sıbyan Mektebi, with 4 years of schooling recorded. The record marks no qualification (diploma, certificate, training or decoration). Languages recorded, with the skill words of the record: Bulgarian, with Tekellum; Turkish, with Kitabet.

First work is recorded in Niš in 1855/56 (AH 1272): Tahrirat Kalemi. The official was then about 15 years old. The record gives 4 years of unpaid apprenticeship (mülazemet) before the first salary. The first-salary field gives 200 kuruş a month. At the first annual entry, in 1859/60, the official was about 18 years old.

The first annual entry, for 1859/60, shows Defter-i Hakani Kalemi in Niš, with 200 kuruş a month. In 1865/66 the record shows Tapu Kitabeti in Niš, with 300 kuruş a month (before: Defter-i Hakani Kalemi in Niš). In 1868/69 the record shows Mukayyit in Pirot (Şehirköy), with 450 kuruş a month (before: Tapu Kitabeti in Niš). In 1869/70 the record shows Mukayyit in Niš, with 450 kuruş a month (before: Mukayyit in Pirot). In 1871/72 the record shows DH Baskitabeti in Niš, the salary going from 450 to 500 kuruş a month (before: Mukayyit in Niš). In 1878 the record shows DH Baskitabeti in Kırklareli, the salary going from 500 to 450 kuruş a month (before: DH Baskitabeti in Niš). In 1879/80 the record shows DH Kitabeti in Kırklareli, the salary going from 450 to 360 kuruş a month (before: DH Baskitabeti in Kırklareli). In 1880/81 the record shows Defter-i Hakani Kalemi in Didymoteicho (Dimetoka), the salary going from 360 to 1,200 kuruş a month (before: DH Kitabeti in Kırklareli). In 1886/87 the record shows Defter-i Hakani Kalemi in Preveza (Preveze), the salary going from 1,200 to 760 kuruş a month (before: Defter-i Hakani Kalemi in Didymoteicho). In 1893/94 the record shows Defter-i Hakani Kalemi in Drama, with 760 kuruş a month (before: Defter-i Hakani Kalemi in Preveza). No annual entry is recorded for 1867/68 and 1877/78.

The highest salary, 1,200 kuruş a month, is first recorded in 1880/81 as Defter-i Hakani Kalemi. 87 per cent of the other officials with a recorded salary that year earned less. The median salary of all officials that year was 500 kuruş. Over 38 years with a salary the median is 500 kuruş a month, with 4 rises and 4 cuts. The largest rise, 840 kuruş, is seen in 1880/81. From the first salary to the last the salary grew by 3.2 per cent a year on average. The last salary is recorded in 1897/98, when 79 per cent of the other officials with a recorded salary that year earned less.

Honours recorded in the cross-ministry workbook: Rank (recorded code): 3.