'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎31v] (67/470)

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this district is the A1 Sufran, which possessed lands on the left bank of the Euphrates
about 15 miles downstream from Samawah. This is one of the most troublesome
of the tribes of the Division. Its head Shaikh, Ma‘jun al Hamadi, submitted to
Capt. Goldsmith in November 1917; but he seems to be either unwilling or unable
to restrain the unruly members of his tribe or to make them obey orders, and sooner
or later he and his people will have to be taught a salutary lesson.
Shinafiyah .—This is the least important district of the Division; the tribes are
for the most p^rt weak, under petty shaikhs, and of no great political importance.
Like the Al Zaiyad tribe, of the Samawah district, they were originally cultivators,
and Shinafiyah was famed for its grain output, but the water level has fallen and
made cultivation difficult and expensive. Consequently, the tribes have become
cattle and sheep owners, and spend a large portion of the year wandering in and
out of the Shinafiyah district, seeking pastures for their flocks and herds. Their
favourite grazing grounds are towards Al Batn and Loqah in the south and south
west, and the Mishkhab and Ghammas in the north. The tribes do not appear to
have had headmen of outstanding authority before our occupation, and some of
the shaikhs appear to be singularly unwilling to accept the responsibility of the
chieftainship which we have thrust upon them. Up to date the tribes, though wild,
have given very little trouble; and, in case of any rising, I think it would be very
easily quelled. A monthly allowance of Rs. 150/ - p. m. has been sanctioned for
each of the shaikhs, with effect from 1st December 1918. The heads of the Sadah
party in Shinafiyah town were implicated in the plot which was defeated at Najaf,
and Saiyid Hadi Mugotar and Saiyid Husain Mugotar were deported to India.
Generally, the conduct of the tribes of the Division has been fairly satisfactory;
they appear to be content with the British rule, and have a pleasing readiness to
obey orders. We have received considerable assistance from many of the leading
men. How much of this satisfactory state of affairs is due to genuine goodwill,
and how much to fear of the Armies of Occupation, remains to be seen.
4. Revenue.— Owing to the fact that this was the first year that revenue had
been taken in these parts, also that the tribes were in an unsettled state, the Civil
Commissioner, on my recommendation, permitted a reduction of the figures of Miri
required from the tribes.
The assessment was exceedingly unsatisfactory, and I am hopeful that next
year a systematic measuring by other than Arabs may be found possible.
In all, some 1,500 tons have been collected this year, part of which (again with
special permission from the Civil Commissioner) has been paid for.
. /k) Tapu.—-There has^ been no Tapu registration in the Division since the
British Occupation. It is important that this should be undertaken soon, as there
considerable amount of Tapu land. Saiyid Muhsin Abu Tabikh and Haii
Abdul Abbas al Farhud, of the Bani Zuraij tribe, are the biggest holders of Tapu
land; the former owns most of the land between the Hillah Canal and Al Qass in
the Siunaflyah district, while the latter has considerable holdings on the left bank
a n 1 ! 16 -S. P ai l al * A lar § e num ber of landlords in Samawah hold Tapu sanads.
All buildings m Samawah, Rumaithah and Shinafiyah have been numbered and
general arrangements have been made for the work of the Tapu Mamur who’ it D
hoped, will soon be sent from Baghdad.
_ (c) Waqf. The only Waqf properties are in Samawah and Shinafiyah towns
They are of no great importance and consist mainly of khans for the accommodation
of pilgrims and Husamiyahs ” (places of lamentation). All are managed bv the
original owners or their descendants, and Government has no share in their
(d) Miscellaneous and Special toereMes.—Taxes are collected on fish wood
,uss and vegetables, and the kodah and tobacco licences are worked on the same
lines as elsewhere. The taxes are collected in the usual way in the market-places
and regular check is made by the various Officers in charge and Revenue Mamurs’
The total amounts collected are shown in the list attached to this Report (AppenrhxL)'.
(e) Customs. A sum of Rs. 5/- was collected in Shinafiyah on tobacco on
which duty had not already been paid. No other Customs dues were received
(f) Compensation. —Nil.
feRiGATiON.-During the year a bund was constructed at the foot of the
Hillah Canal, this has held up the water and greatly increased the area for rice