'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎102r] (208/470)

A faddan tapu consists of 80 donums (200,000 square metres). A local faddan
usually referred to in ordinary conversation with cultivators consists of 25 to
30 douums, and is the amount which one pair of bullocks with two men can
cultivate during one year, viz., about 13 to 16 acres.
( 6 ) The land in Karbala district is irrigated chiefly by the Husainiyah canal,
and there are a few waterlifts (Arabic karad, plural karud) which lift water by
means of a large skin called a dalu, which carries from 16 to 20 gallons at each lift.
The Dalu is hauled up by a rope pulled by one animal, which is either a pony, mule
or, more usually, a bullock. There is ordinarily one attendant in charge of each
animal working on the lift. A karad of this description with one animal and one
attendant can irrigate 4 donums or about 3 acres.
(7) Casual labourers working on the land in busy times are not paid by the
landlord in cash, but in kind and the rate varies according to the terms arranged.
( 8 ) When the produce of the land has been gathered in, the Government takes
a one-tenth share when the water has had to be lifted, and a one-fifth share when
the water has not had to be lifted. There are several ways of arranging about
the division of the remainder between the landowner and the tenants. In the case
of a small estate the remnant is divided between the fallah Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. and the landlord, the
latter taking from one-third to one-half of the produce according to whether the
seed was provided by the fallah Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. or the landlord. The landlord and the cultivators
then give one-tenth of each of their portion to the Sarkal; this is called
Sarkaliyah. In the case of a large estate the landlord frequently sets aside a
certain area for each Sarkal, which is called a “ mutlaq.” The Sarkal takes the
whole produce of this “ mutlaq ” after payment of the Government share, and
receives no Sarkaliyah either from the fallah Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. or the landlord. The landlord takes
one-third to one-half of the remaining produce according to whether the seed was
provided by the fallah Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. or by himself.
Another system is for the Sarkal to take a certain proportion of grain which
is previously arranged between him and the landlord according to the area
cultivated, this is also called Sarkaliyah. The remainder being split up in the
usual proportion between the fallah Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. and the landlord according as to whether the
seed is provided by the latter or not.
(9) This year the landlords and tenants are evincing great anixetyto increase
the area under cultivation, and this has been rendered possible by the reclamation
of much flooded land. This question has been dealt with under the heading of
“Irrigation.” ^ 1 ^ ,
(10) An agricultural calendar of the Karbala district is attached as
Appendix C.
5. Municipal. (1) The Karbala municipality now consists of a president and
six members, all leading men in their respective quarters. During the year there
was considerable trouble over the municipality, all power being in the hands of
the President, who unfortunately was not as upright an individual as might be
desired As a result of an exhaustive enquiry and trial he was finally removed m
July and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for receiving bribes, and for theft
ot municipal funds. , ., ,, • • i i- i j n
(2) The results were immediate and remarkable, the municipal funds gradually
increasing under new management by about one thousand pounds in six months,
with no diminution in the expenditure. ,
(3) The municipal committee deals with questions affecting the lighting,
cleanliness and general welfare of the town. . . . „ .
(4) The chief question affecting Karbala town as a whole is that of the food
supply, particularly grain. Owing to periodical large influx of pilgrims and to the
considerable population of the town itself, the question of the food supply is an
ever-present anxiety. But ground exists for hoping that owing to increase of local
cultivation the state of affairs will shortly entirely disappear or be mitigated.
(5) The municipal supervisory establishment consists of
1 Head Clerk and Treasurer.
1 Assistant Clerk.
8 Municipal Inspectors.
( 6 ) Details of taxes levied by the Karbala municipality are shown as
Appendix D.