MEHMED ARĠF BEY

The life of MEHMED ARĠF BEY began in Hassa in 1858/59 (AH 1275). At about 15, in 1873/74, MEHMED ARĠF began work in Edirne. The first annual entry, for 1873/74, places MEHMED ARĠF in Edirne as Divan-ı Temyiz yazı işleri stajyeri. Alongside, the lists for 1877 to 1880 give a second post, in a post with no place named as Eslimiye Sancağı müsevvidi. For 1880 to 1885 the lists have no entry. Alongside, the lists for 1879/80 give a second post, in İskenderun as İskenderun olaylarını inceleme komisyonu azası. Next came Jeddah (Cidde) from 1885 to 1889. Alongside, the lists for 1894 to 1896 give a second post, in Muş as Muş Sancağı mutasarrıfı. Alongside, the lists for 1895 to 1902 give a second post, in Doğubayazıt as Bayezid Sancağı mutasarrıfı. The last entry, for 1903/04, names MEHMED ARĠF as Dersim Sancağı mutasarrıfı, with no place. Five provinces on two continents in all, a number reached by fewer than 6 per cent of the 6,605 officials with a place of service.

Pay rose from 350 kuruş a month in 1873/74 to a peak of 5,400 in 1903/04, when 98 per cent of paid officials earned less. Over 20 years the salaries add up to 642,900 kuruş, 6.5 times the median official's, a level reached by fewer than 4 per cent of the 4,381 officials paid for five years or more. The final annual entry is for 1903/04.