Until March 1899 all the customs were farmed out, but since then they have been organized on European principles, with the help of Belgian officials.
The bulk of the land was still farmed.
The bank, in addition to its private functions, farmed many of the regalia, and was in the practice of advancing large sums to the state, transactions which gave rise to extensive corruption, and terminated some years later in the breaking of the bank.
Until 1899 all the customs were farmed out (1898-1899 for 300,000),, but in March of that year the farm system was abolished in the two provinces of Azerbaijan and Kermgnshh, and, the experiment there proving successful, in all other provinces in the following year.
But the Crown frequently farmed out its monopolies to individual merchants, or granted trading-licences by way of pension or reward.
