'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎63r] (130/470)

hold over his tribe is by politics, not strength of character, and he is a procrastinator by nature. It is
said that ‘Umran has to rely upon ‘Alwan for diplomacy and the usual tribal intrigues.
Khadim al Ghazi. —Of the ‘Abbas family, the shaikhly house of the Bani Hasan. Kinsman of
‘Alwan. Lives near Abu Lokhah on the Shamiyah Channel. Not very prominent in tribal politics,
but a keen cultivator, and enlightened. He should be shaikh of the Bani Hasan. Too close to Laftah
Shamkhi to be really influential.
Laftah al Shamkhi.- —Head of the Jarrah, the largest section of the Bani Hasan. Under Turkish
rule Laftah was something of a firebrand, and gave trouble pretty constantly. Latterly he has suffered
from poor health, and has been inclined to live in Kufah. It is probable that some of the intrigues
which held to the Najaf riots of January and March were carried out in his country, and he wanted to
be out of the way. Also we have backed ‘Alwan al Sa‘dun Q.V., and his nose is rather out of joint.
He is fairly wild, but straight and outspoken. He has a very strong hold over his tribe, and is an
exceptionally energetic cultivator, who will probably become rich. He has very greatly improved in
the last six months, and gives promise of becoming a useful person.
Quhaiyit ibn Wali. —Ghazalat, he and ‘Ali al Muzai‘il are the most prominent men of the tribe.
Cultivates on the southern part of the Hor Sulaib. Is very much a wild man of the woods and is
undependable. Was much engaged in importing food supplies to ‘Ajaimi Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. . Lives south-east of
Turumah.
‘AZi al Muzaiil. —Cultivates land on the Hor Umm Toq; lives at Turumah. He and Quhaiyit
ibn Wali are the most prominent men of the tribe. Of quarrelsome temperament, and totally
unreasonable. Has several enemies, one of whom, it is devoutly to be hoped, will shortly dispose of
him. Needs a very heavy hand.
‘Aqaili al Raddam. —Cultivates land near Qurnah on the edge of the desert west of the Kufah
Channel. His father, ‘Ulaiwi al Rukhaiyil, is still alive, but is stone blind and too old to manage
affairs. ‘Aqaili is rather a crude specimen, but is more or less honest, and well disposed to the British
Government.
Hunain ibn Hannun. —Paramount chief of the Zaiyad. Cultivates on both sides of the Shamiyah
Channel, near the bazaiz of the Ghammas. His tribe, like the Ibrahim, is purely river in stock and
Hunain is only a slightly polished replica of his own adherents.
Jarri al Muraiyi'. —Zaiyad of Ghammas. Cultivates the bazaiz of the Shatt al Hawi, on the
east of Ghammas Channel. Keeps his people in good order and does not dabble in politics.
APPENDIX IV.
The Constitution of the Buraq Quarter of Najaf, under the Rule of
the Four Shaikhs.
In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate, and whose help we seek.
We write this document in order to secure unity and cohesion amongst ourselves, i.e., we the
inhabitants of Buraq quarter, and our names are at the end of this document.
We have assembled ourselves and become united and of one blood, and follow' one another should
anything happen to our quarter from other quarters. We will rise together against an outsider who
is not from us, whether the result be to our advantage or to our disadvantage, and the conditions of
our union are as follows :—
(1) If an outsider is killed, the murderer has to pay 5 litres, and the remainder of the blood
money to be paid by the whole tribe. ,
(2) If anybody from our union is killed, half of the fasil is for the murdered man s family,
and half for the union. ^
(3) If anyone kills anybody from his own tribe, and the tribe has no responsible head, the
murderer must leave the place for seven years, and anybody who aids him is also to be dismissed
for the same period. The fasil is 30 liras in gold, and the farshah, 5 liras and 10 silk garments.
One -third is to be given to the union, and two-thirds to the relatives, payable in two instalments.
(4) One who wounds anyone from his own tribe, and the wound results in bleeding, has to
pav one lira. , „ . . - , . . „
^ (5) One who aims at his frined with his rifle, without firing, is to surrender his rifle.
( 6 ) One who wounds another, and the wound results in his illness, has to pay 5 bras,
surrender his weapon, and leave the town for a short period, and whatever extra is paid, one-
third of it will be given to our commander, Kadhim Subbi, and two-thirds to the union.
(7) Should harm befall one of us who steals, robs, loots or fornicates, we are not only
not responsible, but also not his friend. . . , .
( 8 ) If any one of us is arrested for our doings by the Government, or imprisoned, all his
expenses will be paid by us.
The above is for all of us. We are united with Kadhim, whether he is in the town or not, and on
this condition we all put our signatures, and we all agree to it, and God is our witness.
Signed by Saiyid Hadi, Saiyid Mansur and many others.