'Military Report on Iraq. Area 2 (Upper Euphrates)' [‎32r] (68/140)

55
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Under normal conditions the land cultivated by agricul
tural tribes is the property of the Government, and the
Shaikh collects the revenue of his following as a whole, and
after retaining a percentage himself he pays the revenue due
into the Government Treasury. The effect of the grant of
title deeds to individuals was to break the power and influence
of the Shaikhs and to make every tribesman his own master,
dealing direct with Government. The Shaikhs have little or
no influence over the main body of their tribes, and eveiy
village, or rather group of huts, has a headman known as a
“ Mukhtar.” These “ Mukhtars ” are chosen by election,
and if not personally acceptable to their followers they are
liable to be replaced. Of comparatively recent years portions
of the Aqaidat have begun to own sheep, camels and horses,
and they graze their flocks in the neighbourhood of then
riverain holdings. They have therefore become semi-
nomadic in addition to holding their original lands along the
river. This is curious as being a reversal of the usual oidci
of things. „ , . , , x
The whole tribe owns about 4,000 rifles, of which about l,o 00
are modern, mostly German Mausers, and the remainder are
of older pattern but serviceable. They are plentifully supplied
with ammunition, of which there has been a very large supp y
since the Turkish defeat in Palestine and Syria. It is impossible
to give any accurate estimate of the amount of ammunition
at their disposal, but it is unlikely to be exhausted for some
years to come. . . .
The Aqaidat are raided indiscriminately by the Amzali,
Shammar and Dulaim, who look down upon and despise them.
The reason for this is that the Aqaidat combine pastoral
and agricultural pursuits with the robbery of passing caravans.
They will not, however, attack a caravan unless in overwhelming
numbers, and these raids are generally accompanied by murder
in addition to robbery. It appears, however, that, although
affecting to despise the Aqaidat, the other tribes in their
vicinity hesitate to fight the riverain section?, and only
raid their flocks in the desert. The riverain villages are
situated in difficult country for military operations unless
in some strength. Dense brushwood, small sandhills and
nullahs give good cover to the villagers, who cross the river
in shakturs or on inflated skins if attacked in any foice. a n
tactics are to attack convoys or numerically inferior forces
for which they lie in wait in difficult country.
6 The present political attitude of the tribe is anti-British
and nominally pro-Sharifian, although they would probably
prefer no settled Government at all, but would wish to revert
to the lawless methods of a century ago, taking toll on all