Mehmed Zeki Efendi

Mehmed Zeki Efendi was born in Ohrid (Ohri) in 1885/86 (AH 1303); the father's occupation was "Jandarma Binbaşısı". At about 19, in 1905/06, Mehmed Zeki began work in Florina, on a first salary of 520 kuruş. The first annual entry, for 1905/06, places Mehmed Zeki in Florina as Üçüncü Kol Tahrir-i Nüfus Memuru. Mehmed Zeki then moved to Prizren and Botevgrad (Orhaniye) from 1906 to 1909. Alongside, the lists for 1908/09 give a second post, in a post with no place named as Mal Muduru. Next came Kavala and Thessaloniki (Selanik) from 1909 to 1911, with a rise to Emlak-ı Emiriye Müdürü in 1911. Alongside, the lists for 1911 to 1912 give a second post, in Drama as Sancak Muhasebecisi, with a rise to Sancak Muhasebecisi. Alongside, the lists for 1911/12 give a second post, in Istanbul as Vilayet Emlak Müdürü. Few officials served in as many places; fewer than 6 per cent of the 6,605 officials with a place of service did.

The salary went from 520 kuruş a month in 1905/06 to 2,250 in 1911/12, the peak, in Istanbul, when 82 per cent of paid officials earned less. In all, eight years of salary come to 88,440 kuruş, 1.7 times what an official on the median salary earned in those years. The final annual entry is for 1911/12.