Seyyid Mustafa Efendi

The life of Seyyid Mustafa Efendi began in Kütahya in 1840/41 (AH 1256). At about 16, in 1856/57, Mustafa began work in Medina (Medine), on a first salary of 150 kuruş. The first annual entry, for 1856/57, places Mustafa in Medina as Asakir-i Muvazzafe Serpiyadesi Tahir Bey maiyet kâtibi, where the entries run to 1864/65. Alongside, the lists for 1864 to 1867 give a second post, in Yanbu as Şevne Kitabeti refakati. For 1867 to 1873 the lists have no entry. Alongside, the lists for 1865 to 1867 give a second post, in Mecca as Rusumat-ı Reftiye müdürü. From 1873 to 1899 the annual entries place Mustafa again in Medina. Mecca, about 2,200 km from Kütahya, was the post farthest from the birthplace; fewer than 3 per cent of the 5,339 officials with a known birthplace and place of service served as far from home. Few careers in the lists are as long; fewer than 4 per cent of the 8,239 officials have entries spanning 44 years or more.

The salary went from 150 kuruş a month in 1856/57 to 777 in 1898/99, the peak, in Medina, when 78 per cent of paid officials earned less. In all, 38 years of salary come to 212,079 kuruş, 1.1 times what an official on the median salary earned in those years. The last annual entry is for 1898/99.