"تقارير إدارة أقسام ومناطق الأراضي المحتلة في بلاد الرافدين لسنة ١٩١٨. المجلد I" [و‎‎١‎٦‎٤] (٤٧٠/٣٣٢)

is no doubt that the fact of his being Shaikh Qubashi’s son and heir does much
to keep the Shabanahs together and to keep the tribes in order.
Mulazim Hattab ibn Shaikh Qubashi has not been an unqualified success
hitherto. He does not put enough backbone into his work and spends too much
time worrying about his personal position.
Mulazim Mardan as Sa‘ad is by far the best Arab officer in the Qurnah force.
Keen and intelligent, he has a great influence over the men. It was largely through
his efforts that the trouble over the dislike of drill was got over.
11. Labour. —-The demands for labour for military works have been very
small during the year. A few coolies have been employed with the dredgers in
Hammar Lake and a few on the maintenance of the railway and the Tigris marching
road. Apart from these, no large numbers have been employed anywhere and the
whole population has been enabled to devote its attention to the development of
the land and the repair of the necessary bunds.
12. Miscellaneous.—N il.
13. Establishment and Personnel.— In the early part of the year Lieut.
E. M. Hopkins was my assistant at Qurnah. When he went on leave to England
Capt. 0. C. Mylles, M.C., was sent; but he, after a stay of a few months, was sent
to Qahat Sikar. Finally, Lieut. C. C. C. Lewis, I.A., was sent as Shabanah Officer.
He has helped me in much of the political work in addition to his duties with the
Shabanahs.
The Mudirs have all done good work. Shaikh Qubashi has been especially
useful, while Ibrahim al ‘Amari has done extraordinarily well in a difficult position
as Mudir of Bani Hutait. ‘Ati al Sa‘ad has improved very much at Hair, and now
has the nahiyah well under control.
My head revenue clerk, Tsa Effendi, has been of the greatest help to me. He
is a tireless worker, and his great local knowledge has been found extremely useful.
He is quite the most reliable man in my office.
J. B. Mackie, Captain,
Political Officer, Qurnah.