EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 55 
hammed himfelf, and applied, as would appear, to the relief 
of the neceflitous ; the prophet exprelsiy forbidding his own 
.family to fhare in it, as unworthy of their rank, and, at 
the fame time, allotting to them a fifth part of the plunder 
obtained in war. This impoft continues to be levied, but is 
applied to needful expenfes or unnecefTary prodigality, rather 
than to foften the lot of the indigent, its original purpofe. 
Oftentatious charities fatisfy the fcruples of the monarch, and 
blind the eyes of the people to this mifapplication. The tax is 
not now applicable to land or houfes, but to the merchandize 
imported into the country. The duties on thefe, when demanded 
of Mohammedans, are taken under the name of zecchdt. 
The fecond impoft is the charage^ which fignifies the product 
of lands. It is intended to denote, not only any tax on land, but 
alfo on the perfons of dhummies^ i. e. Chriftians and Jews ; 
though in the latter cafe it receives the appellation of Jizie 
the capitation tax, or falvage for their perfons, which 
otherwife, according to the letter of the Koran, the true be- 
liever is not bound to fpare. 
In modern times, the public revenue of the Porte, which is 
derived from various fources, is known under the name of 
Miri J the private one of the emperor is fupplied in a different 
way, and termed Chafn'e. 
The nature of the revenue of each province depended at 
firft, in a great meafure, on the manner in which that province 
was originally acquired ; and, even now, the fame diftindion 
in 
