'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎92v] (189/470)

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Labour has no representative now and his more essential functions are performed
by the Assistant Political Officer.
As regards rural districts, demands have been heavy both on contract and corvee
labour. A large bund, designed to carry road and railway between Musaiyib and
the Barrage, was begun by contract labour and finished, owing to pressure of time
by a corvee of cultivators. The District Irrigation Officer was ordered to construct
a new road between Musaiyib and Mahawil. It is not known what useful purpose
the road was to serve, and on the representation of P.O. Hillah it was abandoned.
A road from Musaiyib along the river to join at the Latifiyah with the old Turkish
marching road to Fallujah was also ordered. I cannot imagine that it will ever be
much used. It is held up at present for want of labour.
The New Mahmudiyah canal was also a considerable strain on the resources
of the district.
It appears scarcely to be realised that the population of the district is one of
settled cultivators, who have to work hard at agriculture all the year round. They
are in this unlike the cultivators in other parts of ‘Iraq, whose agricultural operations
depends on flooded areas and only occupy human labour for a small part of the
year.
12. Miscellaneous. — [a) The Baghdad road has been safe for travel throughout
the year. There have, however, been a few highway robberies, all, in my opinion,
traceable to “ ma‘dan ” Arabs from the Tigris and ‘Aziziyah district. P.O. Hillah
was unwilling to take the matter up until definite proof connecting these Arabs
with the robberies could be obtained. The capture of some of them returning from
a raid on Zoba* flocks at the end of November has now supplied irrefutable proof.
{b) It is early to discuss pilgrimage traffic. The Ziyarah, to celebrate
the return of Husain’s head to Karbala, came upon us immediately on the re-opening
of pilgrim traffic and arrangements were not all that could be wished. I understand
that A.P.O. Karbala is taking the matter up.
(c) The Musaiyib Bridge was broken early in April and has not been repaired.
A cable-ferry was erected in the summer, but it is a clumsy device, unsuited
to the needs of the population. The rebuilding of the bridge is most desirable,
especially as pilgrim traffic has been reopened.
(d) There are railway stations at ‘Awairij, Mahmudiyah, Khan Haswah and
Khan Nasiriyah, the latter the nearest, 8 miles from Musaiyib.
Considerable use of the railway was made by pilgrims to the November Ziyarah
and it was much appreciated.
(e) Sequestered Estates. Wand. The management of the estate by the owners’
relations last year was unsatisfactory, and it has been let for 1918 for Rs. 35,000.
Izzat Beg s estate. The estate will do quite well this year and it is hoped to
recover rents due for 1917 and 1916. But Tzzat Beg seems to have been of the
opinion that in the matter of agents there is safety in numbers and each debtor
or supposed debtor of the estate interviewed always seems to have paid his rent
to a different agent. A large number of the agents have disappeared to Stambul.
13. Establishment and Personnel.— The Mudir Mai, the Mamur ‘Anbar
Musaiyib and his clerk and weighman were sentenced to terms of imprisonment
for attempting to sell Government grain illicitly.
‘Anbar staffs are being abolished as permanent institutions. The Mudir mal
has not been replaced and appears to me an unnecessary official.
The New Mahmudiyah will involve the creation of a new post of mamur and
some additional qolchis. These have been applied for.
An additional English clerk is necessary as correspondence appears to be on the
increase.
J. S. Thomson, Captain,
A.P.O., Musaiyib.