Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. IEvliya Çelebi
History
Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. I
Evliya Çelebi
Caucasus, South -- Description and travel; Istanbul (Turkey) -- Description and travel; Turkey -- History
In this province there are nineteen sanjaks, and five hakúmets (or
hereditary governments). Eleven of the nineteen sanjaks are the same as
the others in the Ottoman provinces, but the remaining eight were, at
the time of the conquest, conferred on Kurdish Begs with the patent of
family inheritance for ever. Like other sanjaks, they are divided into
ziámets and tímárs, the possessors of which are obliged to serve in
the field; but if they do not, the ziámet or timár may be transferred
to a son or relation, but not to a stranger. The hakúmets have neither
ziámets nor timárs. Their governors exercise full authority, and
receive not only the land revenues, but also all the other taxes which
in the sanjaks are paid to the possessor of the ziámet or timár,
such as the taxes for pasturage, marriages, horses, vineyards, and
orchards. The Ottoman sanjaks are: 1. Kharpút. 2. Arghání. 3. Siverek.
4. Nissibin. 5. Husunkeïf. 6. Miafarakain. 7. Akchékala’. 8. Khapúr.
9. Sinjár. The Kurdish are: 1. Síghmán. 2. Kúláb. 3. Mehrásí. 4. Aták.
5. Bertek. 6. Chapakchúr. 7. Chermek. 8. Terjíl. The independent
governments: 1. Jezíreh. 2. Akíl. 3. Kenj. 4. Palwá. 5. Hezzú. These
are extensive provinces, and their governors have the title of Janáb
(excellency). The officers of the diván of Díárbeker are: the defterdár
of the treasury with a rúz-námjí (journal-writer); a defterdár of the
feudal forces, an inspector (Emín), and a lieutenant (Kehiyá) of the
defter, and another for the Chávushes; a secretary (Kátib), a colonel,
and a lieutenant-colonel of the militia.
_The Province of Kars._
Before the conquest this district belonged to Erzrúm, but it was
afterwards made a separate province, and had the sanjak of Yásín joined
to it. It has a colonel and lieutenant-colonel, but no officers of the
defter. Its sanjaks are: 1. Little Erdehán. 2. Hújuján. 3. Zárshád. 4.
Kechrán. 5. Kághizmán. 6. Kars, the seat of the Páshá.
_The Province of Jíldir or Akhíchkeh._
Of the civil officers of the diván there is here only a defterdár
of the treasury; and of the military, there is a colonel and a
lieutenant-colonel of the feudal militia. The sanjaks are: 1. Oultí. 2.
Harbús. 3. Ardinj. 4. Hajrek. 5. Great Ardehán. 6. Postkhú. 7. Mahjíl.
8. Ijareh-penbek. Besides these there are four hereditary sanjaks: 1.
Púrtekrek. 2. Lawaneh. 3. Nusuf Awán. 4. Shúshád. During the reign
of Sultán Mohammed Khán, the castle of Kotátis was captured by Kara
Mortezá, and was added to this province.
_The Province of Gúrjistán or Georgia._
The sanjaks are: 1. Achikbásh. 2. Shúshád. 3. Dádián. 4. Gúríl. The
Begs of Megrelistán (Mingrelia) are all infidels; but Murád IV. reduced
them, and having placed Sefer Pasha as their governor, made the castle
of Akhickha the seat of government. To this day they send the annual
presents.
_The Province of Tarabafzún (Trebisonde)._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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