_The Lebanon_ was constituted a _sanjak_ or _mutessariflik_, dependent directly on the Porte, which was to act in this case in consultation with the six great Powers. The province extended about 93 miles from north to south (from the boundary of the _sanjak_ of Tripoli to that of the _caza_ of Sidon), and had a mean breadth of about 28 miles from one fort of the chain to the other, beginning at the edge of the littoral plain behind Beyrout and ending at the western edge of the Beka’a: but the boundaries were ill-defined, especially on the east, where the original line drawn along the crest of the ridge had not been adhered to, and the mountains had encroached on the Beka’a. _The Lebanon_ was under a military Governor (_mashir_), who had been a Christian in the service of the _Sultan_ (1861‒1876), Abdul Aziz (1830‒1876), approved by the Powers, and who had, so far, been chosen from the Roman Catholics, owing to the great preponderance of Latin Christians in the province. He resided at Deir-al-Kamar, an old seat of the Druse _Emirs_. At first appointed for three years, then for ten, his term has been fixed since 1892 at five years, the Porte fearing that the longer term might lead to a personal domination. Under the Governor were seven _Kaimakams_, all Christians except a Druse in Shuf, and forty-seven _mudirs_, who all depended on the _Kaimakams_, except one, in the home district of ♦Deir-al-Kamar. A central _mejliss_ or Council of twelve members was composed of four Maronites, three Druses, one Turk, two Greeks (orthodox), one Greek Uniate and one _Metawel_. This was the original proportion, and it has not been altered, in spite of the decline of the Druses and the increase of the Maronites. The members are elected by the seven cazas. In each _mudirich_ there is also a local _mejliss_. Judges are appointed by the Governor, but _Sheikhs_ by the villagers. Commercial cases, and law-suits in which strangers are concerned, are carried to Beyrout. The police is recruited locally, and no regular troops appear in the province except on special requisition. The taxes are collected directly, and must meet the needs of the province before any sum is remitted to the Imperial treasury. The latter has to make deficits good. ♦ “Dier” replaced with “Deir” This constitution has worked well on the whole. The only serious hitch that occurred was caused by the attempts of the Governor-General and the _Kaimakam_ to supersede the _mejliss_ by autocratic action, and to impair the freedom of the elections. The attention of the Porte was called to these tendencies in 1892, and again in 1902, on the appointment of new Governors. The railway is French, and a precedence in ecclesiastical functions is accorded by the Maronites to the official representatives of France.