File 1855/1904 Pt 8 'Koweit:- Arabia Chiefs' attitude towards tribes of the interior (Nejd etc.)' [‎107v] (212/336)

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, i . i „/i fimno-h thp rimount of bribes demanded by the officials
the Turks and not yet released ihough the ‘ m ° un ^ fik Arabs the formation of a
has been paid has 1 njosed t to the M,e^h of^Munt ^ the Turiis Qiit o ,
strong eonfedeiacj b t, ntl t o the Great Powers for protection. The Mautafi,
Sheihh d*id not fall in with the views of the Hitein Sheikh, as the Arabs consider the
Hiteta are of inferior blood, and a proposal coming from such a source would not V,
take V’ P i , nfo™ant A Tlso informed me that cereals were very expensive in Jahal
qivmmL and Kassim and prices ranged five or six times as high as those on the
Euphrates owing to the limited produce available in the regions mentioned He
explained that the fields are irrigated by water drawn from wells by camels, and these
animals cannot stand the work, and in two months they become useless and are sold
“fifth of their original price, and though there is plenty of water and arable land,
for tills reason they find it just as cheap to import their gram from the districts on
the Euphrates. He has heard of the recent importations of pumps into Bagdad for
purposes of irrigation, and he is very much interested m the matter as he thinks
that these appliances would meet with much favour m the regions indicated, as the
whole of the cultivable land may he brought under cultivation by then employment.
He understands that the price of Russian kerosene oil necessary for working the oil
engine which drives the pump is about 20 per cent, dearer m Jabal Sliammar than at
Koweit from where it will have to be procured, and that proper mechanics will have
to be engaged to work the engines, &e., from Bagdad at a higher rate of pay than
thev receive locally. He wishes to procure definite information as regards a pumping
plant capable of raising a similar quantity of water as ten or eleven “ bakras’’* from
a depth of 8 to 9 metres. When the details are forthcoming, be proposes to transmit
them to the Amir of Jabal JShammar, and suggest to him the purchase of such a
puinpin f f plant for erection at Hayil as a trial. If the venture meets with success,
lie declares that over 200 plants will he required m the localities mentioned alone.
He asked me whether I would assist him in obtaining the details of a suitable plant—
a plant that can he carried in pieces, weighing from 2 cwt. to 2-J cwt. each, for
transport by camel.
In respect of the appearance of several sections of the Aneza tribe of Arabs on the
Euphrates between Musayib and Nedjef, he stated that it was nothing unusual. He
explained that it was customary for these Arabs to camp in that neighbourhood
during this season of the year so long as the grazing ground roundabout supported
their camels, cattle, and flocks.
About fifteen years ago the Aneza fell out with the Amir of Jahal Sliammar,
and to avoid being raided by the Amir they kept aloof from the lower reaches of the
Euphrates, hut now that they have come to an understanding with the Amir, they
need no longer take that precaution. There are several thousands of tents scattered
in groups of 200 to 500 throughout the region mentioned.
(Signed) J. C. GASKIN.
September 24, 1906.
Note by Major Ramsay.
Mr. Gaskin’s informant is in a position to have the latest and most accurate
information of what is going on in the Ibn Easchid camp and counsels. The inter
view took place in the house of a Indian resident of Bagdad. I did not take part in
it as my movements are carefully watched.
Mnt’ih-ihn-Easchid is said to have received an order on the Karbala district for
£T. 250 a-month. This is not regularly paid, and the local officials are trying to get
a bribe to induce them to pay ; this Mnt’ib has refused to pay. Erom another source
I hear that the Sultan’s Aide-de-camp, who went to take a decoration to Mut’ib, had
a-ot as far as Havil.
September 29, 1906,
(Signed)
J. BAM SAY, Major,
* Water-bags drawn by bullocks, known in India as “ charas.”