ice of a province the right of plundering and ravaging it at
pleasure. It was from the chief of the State that this traffic in
lives proceeded, and agreements were entered into for the ruin of the
cities. In the chief courts and in the public market-place the
legalised brigand went round about, who was called "collector" from
his duty of collecting the money paid for the purchase of dignities,
which they exacted from the oppressed, who had no hope of redress. Of
all those who were promoted to his service, although several were men
of repute, Barsyames always preferred such as were of depraved
character.

He was not the only offender in this respect; all his predecessors and
successors were equally guilty. The "Master of Offices" did the same,
likewise the officials of the imperial treasury, and those who had
the duty of superintending the Emperor's private and personal
estate--in a word, all who held public appointments in Byzantium and
other cities. In fact, from the time that this tyrant had the
management of affairs, either he or his minister claimed the subsidies
suitable to each office, and those who served their superiors,
suffering extreme poverty, were compelled to submit to be treated as
if they were the most worthless slaves.

The greater part of the corn that had been imported to Byzantium was
kept until it rotted; but, although it was not fit for human
consumption, he forced the cities of the East to purchase it in
proportion to their importance, and he demanded payment, not at the
price paid even for the best corn, but at a far higher rate; and the
poor people, who had been forced to purchase it at an outrageously
heavy price, were compelled to throw it into the sea or the drains.

That which was sound and not yet spoilt, of which there was great
abundance in the capital, the Emperor determined to sell to those
cities which were scantily supplied. In this manner he realised twice
the amount that had formerly been obtained by the receivers of the
public tribute in the provinces. The next year the supply of corn was
not so abundant, and the transports did not bring a sufficient
quantity to supply the needs of the capital. Peter, disconcerted at
the state of affairs, conceived the idea of buying up a great quantity
of corn from Bithynia, Phrygia and Thrace. The inhabitants of those
provinces were forced to bring it down to the coasts themselves (a
work of great labour), and to convey it at considerable risk