'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎97v] (199/470)

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considered excessive by the tribes, and it was necessary to make reductions. Until
some form of fixed assessment can be introduced it would probably be better to
forgo Government share on vegetables consumed at home, and collect merely
on what is brought to market. •
Tobacco. —The Government share on tobacco is one-fifth. The crop was
estimated and the Government share was collected on tobacco at the time of sale.
The estimation merely provided a check by giving an indication of the amount
which might be expected to be brought eo market. The total amount collected from
this source was Rs. 46,682/0/3.
(b) Tapu. —As already stated the bulk of the Hindiyah lands are miri. Only
two tapu estates exist: one belonging to the Manahim family, embracing a large
extent of fertile land in the neighbourhood of the Birs Nimrud; the other held in
partnership between one of the Manahims, the Naqib of Baghdad and Saiyid Hadi
Qazwini. A considerable portion of the latter estate is under dispute, the tribes
claiming that the land is miri and was wrongfully entered as tapu through the intrigues
of Saiyid Hadi and his partners.
The owners’ share on the disputed lands has been collected and kept on deposit
pending the decision of the dispute. On the remainder of the tapu land Government
share is collected at one-fifth.
(c) Waqf. —There is only one waqf estate in Hindiyah, the Bardawi muqata‘ah,
which is administered by Haji Mujbil of Kifl for the service of the local mosque
and entertainment of visitors. Under orders of the Auqaf Department, Baghdad,
no accounts are to be rendered by Haji Mujbil.
(d) Miscellaneous and Special Revenue. —This is collected at the rate of one
rupee per head of buffalo, eight annas per sheep and one rupee per camel.
(i) Kodak. —No special staff was entertained for the collection of this tax, but
5 per cent, of the sum collected was distributed as bonus to the Mamur Shu‘bah
and his staff. This was probably as effective a method as any other. An alternative
would be to farm the tax to the Shaikh of the tribe, or to give him a percentage on
collections. The amount collected was Rs. 24,356/-.
(ii) Slaughter-Tax. —This is collected at Tuwairij, Kifl, Khan Hamad and
Tahmasiyah, the tax being farmed for a total of Rs. 5,860. Half the receipts are
credited to Government and half to the Baladiyah.
(iii) Tax on Wood and Fuel, —This is collected at the rate of 10 per cent, on
all sales, except in the case of wood cut on an island, which is charged one-fifth,
being considered wholly Government’s. The amount collected during the vear
was Rs. 175/9/-. . ' J
(iv) Tax on Reeds, Mats, and Charcoal. —This is collected at the rate of 10 per
cent, on sales. The total proceeds are Rs. 2,591/11/9.
. ( v ) Tax on Petition Stamps.—An eight anna stamp is affixed to all petitions
which request the A.P.O. to use his executive or judicial powers. The amount
collected was Rs. 934/8/-.
(yi) ‘Araq Monopoly and Fish Tax'.—These are auctioned at Hillah for the
Division as a whole. Retail licenses for shops produced Rs. 150/-.
3. Irrigation. In few places can British engineers ever have seen so quick
a return for their labours. The Hindiyah Barrage had been completed in 1913,
but the Turks, despite spasmodic efforts, had entirely failed to complete the
excavation of the two canals which were designed to irrigate the Hindivah district
Thus the Barrage, by diverting a large volume of water down the Shatt al Hillah
effectually mined the remains of the Hindiyah cultivation. Within seven months
of the arrival of British engineers at the Barrage, the excavation of the Bani Hasan
and Jorpyah Canals had been completed to their designed length of 60 kilometres
and an area of over 30,000 acres was under cultivation. As the Arabs picturesquely
expressed it: The land was sleeping; she has now opened her eyes.” Naturallv
time was too short to complete the banks of the canals, and the engineers were
soon faced with demands for more water,” which could only be given at the risk
of breaching the banks. Minor breaches, as a matter of fact; were not uncommon,
and m several cases serious damage was done to the crops. The difficulties under
which the legation Department laboured can only be fully appreciated by one
who has worked with them m the district. ^