'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎203r] (410/470)

(c) Duwaiyah .—This town is rather larger than Suwaij, but it is so very tribal
that it is at present almost impossible to treat it as anything but a tribal settlement.
It is not nearly as clean as Suwaij, and the very fact that the majority of the inhabit
ants are tribesmen makes sanitation and cleanliness difficult in the extreme. Living
in Duwaiyah itself is Muhammad al Husain’s section of A1 Ghashim (Bani Sa‘id)
while on the opposite bank of the river (also called Duwaiyah) is the encampment
of Fajar al Musbach, another section of Al Ghashim. It was suggested on one
occasion that the Mudir of Bani Said (Bad‘ah elements) should become Mudir of
Duwaiyah only; but it is quite impossible at present to separate the town of
Dawaiyah from the tribe. To control the town the Mudir must control the tribe
also.
6. Judicial.— The Tribal Criminal and Civil Disputes Regulation continues
to meet all requirements. There is very little judicial work, in which only towns
people are concerned.
On arrival in Shatrah I asked the leading citizens to elect four members to
form a majlis. The four were elected, and have ever since sat as a majlis
within the meaning of the above-mentioned regulation. They are to all intents
and purposes a board of honorary magistrates, though they have no powers.
Cases sent to them are investigated and fully reported upon. They are not allowed
to investigate any case unless it has been sent them by me under an order of refer
ence, neither are they allowed to issue orders concerning the settlement of any case
without my authority. It occasionally happens that one disagrees with the decision
of the majlis.
I have found it advisable to deal with most criminal cases personally. This
applies to both tribal and municipal crime.
7. Education. —A small mulla’s school was existent in Shatrah in lurkish
times and was still open when first I arrived. I asked for sanction to take it over
as a Government school, and was informed that I could do so on the condition that
undenominational policy was strictly adhered to. As an alternative it was suggested
that an entirely new school should be opened in accordance with this policy. This
I did not agree to. First, the Quran was the basis of the education given and it
was impossible to effect so drastic a change in one blow. Secondly, I did not consider
it politic to open an undenominational school which would have the appearance
of being, and would actually be, in opposition to an existing Muhammadan school.
In a large cosmopolitan town, this, no doubt, would have been sound, but not in a
town 90 per cent, of whose population are Shi‘ahs. However, the Director of
Education has laid down a new policy, and I have been able to take over the school.
About a fortnight ago the Director of Education paid a visit to Shatrah and
inspected the school. He seemed quite satisfied with his inspection and found the
scholars quite up to the usual standard.
The number of scholars on the register is 150, but the average daily attendance
is about 60. , n t £
I hope shortly to send two young Arabs to Baghdad to undergo a course of
instruction at Baghdad Teachers’ Training College. At present the teaching profession
is not looked upon with favour by the majority of Arabs of good standing.
8 Medical and Sanitation. —A long while ago I applied for a Sub-Assistant
Surgeon to open a Civil Dispensary at Shatrah, but there is such a shortage of
trained medical men that up to the time of writing there is, I regret to say, no
Sub-Assistant Surgeon and no Civil Dispensary. About two months ago a vaccinator
was sent to Nasiriyah and properly trained. He has now returned and commenced
operations I have suggested that he could do quite a considerable amount of
medical work in a small way, if only he could be given a pannier of medicines.
The patients would willingly pay for any medicines received. Should there at
any time be a spare Sub-Assistant Surgeon, I trust the needs of Shatrah will not
be forgotten, for, apart from the alleviation of suffering, the political value of a Civil
dispensary is well known.
As regards sanitation, I am pleased to report that a great improvement is
noticeable in the town. The roads are kept clean and ma c allafs have been built,
into which all rubbish is dumped. Up to the present I have not considered the
building of public latrines necessary as nearly all houses have private latrines. Two
or three public latrines can be built as soon as the .tribesmen become a little more
civilised. Nor have I yet built any incinerators, as Shatrah possesses a good number
of holes at the back of the town, which should be first of all filled up.