'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎85r] (174/470)

3. The fact that the ejected landowners or fallahs Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. , being freed from cultivation, might work
elsewhere has been ignored. In many cases their position or age debars them from working as coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. ,
and in others they have other cultivation, whether palms which are not acquired, or different plots
which require attention and prevent their seeking fresh employment.
4. It will general!}^ be found, especially in the case of gardens, that several people have an interest
in the same plot of ground. In this district agricultural land falls under the headings miri, tapu,
mudawarah, mahlul, and waqf, and the distribution of the crop varies accordingly. In gardens the
share of mallak and fallah Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. varies from garden to garden, and it is necessary to make separate enquiries
in each case. Generally, the fallah Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. gets all the ground crops and a proportion of the fruit and dates.
It is advisable in the case of both gardens and agricultural land to pay the sarkal all the fallah’s share
of compensation, and let them share out among themselves.
5. If assessments are made soon after sowing it might be fairer to assess in the value of the seed
plus the value of the labour expended; but in such case it will be necessary not to lose sight of the
considerations mentioned in paragraph 3 .
6 . Hitherto compensation has been paid only on the value of the crop destroyed. This method
is obviously unfair when the cultivator is to be kept off his land for more than one harvest, and the
question is being referred to Baghdad. It will probably be found that the best solution is to assess an
annual rent.
7. Revenue due is deducted from the value of a crop. On agricultural land the revenue varies
according to the class of land. The only other revenue that need be regarded is the vegetable tax of
20 per cent, on green and on most dry vegetables.
8 . It frequently happens that the acquisition of a piece of ground injures the cultivation of another
by interfering with the irrigation. Sometimes it is possible to procure a pipe and lay it under a railway
or road that crosses or blocks a channel, and sometimes arrangements can be made with the owner of a
neighbouring canal for the supply of water. If no such arrangement is practicable there is nothing
for it but to pay compensation.
9. In the interest of economy, where possible, acquisition should be delayed to enable a crop to
be reaped. *
B. Miscellaneous. —1. A karad is worth, roughly, 50/-.
2. Large bricks are worth 30/- per 1,000, and small bricks 20/- per 1,000; labour about 10/-
and 12/- respectively for brickAvork on a well.
3. Mud walls are worth, roughly, 3/- per 1,000 c. ft., but the rate varies and the engineers should
be consulted. For practical purposes Rs. 1/- a yard-ordinary for a mud wall.
4. Fruit trees such as pomegranates, apricots, and figs, are assessed at 7/- per an average tree
about 7 ft. high.
Schedule of Compensation Rates.
I. Palm-trees. —Compensation is payable on the following scale :—
20 years and upwards - - - - -
15-20 - - - - - - -
12-15
10-12 - - -
Small trees -------
Rs.
20 /-
15/-
12 /-
10 /-
5/-
The above scale is low and does not fairly represent the capitalised value of the dates. The trees
when felled are the property of the original owner and not of Government. It is undesirable that
Government should acquire the trees by assessment of their value. If the OAvner sells in open market
neither he nor Government suffers. If the trees are acquired, the only fair way of assessing their
value is to measure each, and the A.P.O. has no time for that, because such acquisition involves the
measurement of each trunk. It is better to leave the trees to the Arab and let him sell them to whom
soever he will. Should it be necessary to acquire timber, Re. 1 per linear foot is a fairly accurate flat
rate. Nothing should be paid for small palms that can be transplanted.
Compensation for Crops. 2,.—Crops.
Crop.
Yield per acre.
Selling price
per waznah.
Return per acre.
Compensation pay
able (to nearest).
Kilos.
Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
Onions (green)
1,600
12
192
200
Tobacco
320
80
256
260
Cucumber
2,400
18
432
430
Pumpkins
2,400
12
288
290
Melons
2,400
20
480
480
Beans (green)
1,700
12
204
200
Lettuce
1,740
7
122
120
Wheat - - -
800
15
120
120
Barley - - -
800
12
96
100
The above is probably too high rather than too low, except perhaps in the case of tobacco.
L 4