'IRAQ AND THE PERSIAN GULF' [‎287v] (577/862)

444 IRRIGATION, AGRICULTURE, AND MINOR INDUSTRY
pressure-pumps for irrigation, provided that there is no better claim
from a tribesman. Luzma gives the right of ‘dwelling and agriculture’.
Any crop or tree may be grown and any normal farm buildings may
be erected. The holder of Luzma lands pays a percentage of his
annual produce as rent to the State in addition to the normal taxes.
Luzma rights are inheritable and transferable by testament, may
be ceded to another person (by a form of sale or gift), and may be
mortgaged, but such transactions must be registered with the State,
which retains some control over them. The rights of Luzma lapse
if the land is not properly cultivated for 4 successive years, but other
wise the length of possession is unlimited, and Luzma land that has
been planted with fruit trees can after 10 years be transformed into
Tapu land free of charge. The percentage of Luzma lands in the
provinces assessed by 1943 varied considerably, but totalled 22 per
cent, of the total area of 12 million acres.
Simple Miri land, in which neither Tapu nor Luzma rights have
yet been created, is still the largest category, forming 55 per cent, in
1943 of the land assessed. Both the nominal ownership and all effec
tive rights of disposal of simple Miri are retained by the State, which
leases it to individuals by normal forms for a limited period. Simple
Miri also includes what used to be called mawat, ‘dead’ or waste
land, which was useful neither for agriculture nor building.
Matrukhi covers land used for all purposes of public utility, such
as communications, waterways, irrigation works, communal thresh
ing-grounds, docks, cemeteries, parks, sites of hospitals, schools and
other government buildings, and also of historical monuments.
There is a special registry for such land, and the State has the power
under a law of 1934 to acquire land in all other categories for such
purposes, against due compensation.
Waqfl&nd. is a special category consisting of lands made over by
their holders for any of the purposes of Waqf described on p. 402.
Waqf land may be either ‘regular’ or ‘irregular’. Regular Waqf is
land which was originally Mulk. Irregular Waqf is land which was
originally Miri. Only Mulk and Tapu land can now be turned into
Waqf, though former Sultans dedicated some Miri lands as Waqf.
It is also possible to make a Waqf of the income alone or of a propor
tion of the income derived from land. This too is an irregular Waqf.
Waqfs established for charity are administered directly by the Depart
ment of Waqf (p. 403), and such land is either leased to private
persons or exploited directly by the department. Such lands when
not widely scattered can be worked in large economic units. But