Mehmed Raşid Efendi

Mehmed Raşid Efendi was born in Mecca (Mekke) in 1858/59 (AH 1275); the father was a medrese teacher (müderris). Work began in Istanbul in 1875/76, at about 16, on a first salary of 0 kuruş. The first annual entry, for 1875/76, places Mehmed Raşid in Istanbul as Bâb-ı Meşihat İstanbul Bâb Mahkemesi kâtibi, where the entries run to 1878. Alongside, the lists for 1878 give a second post, in Taiz as Yemen Vilayeti Muhasebe Kalemi Taiz mukayyidi. At the same time, from 1878 to 1880, the lists also place Mehmed Raşid in Al Hudaydah (Hudeyde) as Hudeyde Sancağı Muhasebe Kalemi refiki. Alongside, the lists for 1879 to 1909 give a second post, in a post with no place named as 7. Ordu Meclis Kalemi memuru. Istanbul, about 2,400 km from Mecca, was the post farthest from the birthplace; fewer than 2 per cent of the 5,339 officials with a known birthplace and place of service served as far from home.

Pay rose from 0 kuruş a month in 1875/76 to a peak of 2,880 in 1902/03, when 96 per cent of paid officials earned less. Over 25 years the salaries add up to 536,520 kuruş, 4.3 times what an official on the median salary earned, a level reached by fewer than 7 per cent of the 4,381 officials paid for five years or more. The last annual entry is for 1908/09.