BASHAW, or more properly PACI1A, a person appointed to the government of a province, district, or city, within the dominions of the Grand Seignior. When the successive conquests of the sultans had rendered their empire too extensive to be controuled by their own immediate vigilance, they entrusted the government of the remote provinces to viceroys, who might enforce the imperial mandates, and convey to the imperial exchequer the revenues of their re spective departments. Of these viceroys, or bashaws, there are two orders, invested with different degrees of rank and authority. The first order are called bashaws with three tails, because three horse tails wave on their military standards ; the second are named bashaws with two tails, for they are not allowed to adorn their standards with more than two such streamers. The authority of the bashaw with three tails is, in their respective governments, nearly as un limited and despotic, as that of the monarch whom they represent. The military and executive power are united in their persons ; and the lives and pro perties of all within their department are almost en tirely at their disposal. They maintain a military establishment suitable to the extent, revenues, or the situation of their provinces ; and when summoned by the sovereign, or when the frontier is menaced, they take the field at the head of their respective armies. In the administration of civil justice, however, the bashaws are not allowed to interfere. Every case of civil litigation is decided by the CAMS or judges, who, by a wise regulation, are made entirely inde pendent of the viceroys. The bashaws with two tails have a less extensive department, and more limited power. They cannot inflict death without the sen tence of law ; and though they have the command of the armed force within their district, they are obliged in the field to range their troops under the standard of a bashaw with three tails, and to submit to his commands. In extensive governments the bashaws have likewise a number of delegates, who command, in their different spheres, with as despotic sway as the bashaw or the sultan themselves. Nothing can be conceived more galling and oppressive than this systematic gradation of despotism. The sword of the monarch is thus transferred into the hands of the meanest underling ; and is always wielded with more dreadful effect, as it is more circumscribed in its range.
The abuses which prevail in all the bashawlics are dreadful beyond expression. As the great end of governments is to convey the riches of the empire into the coffers of the grand seignior, it be comes of course the first obligation of a bashaw to levy and transmit the tribute imposed on his particu lar district. The means of doing this are left entirely to his own discretion; nor is it possible for him to be very delicate iu the exercise of his authority. Obli ged to purchase his appointment from the vizir, or some other person of influence, by bidding higher than all his competitors, he is of course eager to indemnify himself by his exactions. Besides, he finds
it necessary still to advance considerable sums to the court, in order to obtain promotion, or even security, and therefore he has recourse to every expedient for raising money ; and as he is uncertain how long lie may retain his office, the readiest expedients are al ways preferred. The mode generally adopted is, to farm out the revenues of the bashawlic to some of the principal inhabitants at an exorbitant rent : these again subdivide them into smaller lots at an increased sum; and thus the system, becoming more oppressive as it descends, reaches even to the meanest hamlets.. By•this system a considerable proportion of the po. pulation are interested in increasing the public bur dens ; and as they are supported in their extortions by state-authority, the wretched inhabitants must submit to them without murmuring. The inevitable and immediate tendency of these extortions.is to ruin and impoverish the country, by repressing the spirit of industry and improvement.
The extensive power of the hashaws naturally makes them ambitious to render it permanent; while the jealous policy of the sultan induces him to remove' them frequently, that they may not. have time to form such connections as may enable them to assert their independence. This precarious tenure by which the bashawlics arc held, is productive of many evils. If the viceroy be of a bold and aspiring temper, his province is harassed by wars occasioned by his rebel. lion. At all events, they regard their governments as mere transient possessions, and are therefore eager to extort from them every temporary advantage,• re gardless of the sufferings of the people, who look, forward, with a kind of desponding anxiety; to a change, which may only perhaps increase their op: presslon. Besides, in the frequent jouruies of the bashaws, the intermediate towns are subjected to great expense, and the fields and villages are ravaged by disorderly troops. Hence every part of the Ot toman empire, at any distance from the capital, seats a scene of the most complete desolation ;—large tracts of country lying uncultivated, hamlets and • villages uninhabited and in ruins.
Though the name bashaw is properly applied to a governor of a province, it is sometimes given, as a title of respect, to people of distinction, although they hold no such office. It is in that case placed after the proper name, and is equivalent to the French monseigncur, or to your excellence, your honour, &c. in English. For some interesting information rela tive to the bashaws, see Volney's Voyage en Syric et en Egypte, tom. i chap. x. vol. ii. chap. xxxiii., vier's Voyage Dans l'.Empire Othoman,&c. chap. xvii.
Russel's Aleppo, vol. i. book ii. chap. vii. See also Guer's Maws et Usages des Tures, tom. ii. lib. x. Savary's Lettres sur Egypte, tom. ii. let. 15. (e)