'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎106v] (217/470)

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were at the time being closely watched by all the tribes, and there is little doubt
that, had the disturbances not been dealt with in a firm manner, the Diwaniyah
district would have been seriously affected. A small faction existed in Diwaniyah
strongly suspected of being in close alliance with the Najaf insurgents. Their
ringleader was deported, and three others were executed as the results of two
singularly cold-blooded murders. This action definitely cleared the air, as far as
the townfolk were concerned, and acted as a useful warning to the tribes. The
law-abiding inhabitants were much relieved at the action taken. Salaries which
had been granted in the time of the Arab agent to tribal shaikhs for nominal
safeguarding of roads were discontinued and each shaikh informed that he was
personally responsible within his tribal limits. This action, credible shaikhs have
since remarked, gave the impression of intent and power to insist on order being
kept, more than would have at that time resulted from the arrival of a considerable
force.
The main object to be achieved was to establish law and order, to enable
revenue to be collected in kind and purchases made, grain being urgently needed
by the Army, and the district containing very extensive crops. Time available
for the purpose was short, and the Turks had never been able to collect revenue,
so that it was by no means certain whether the tribes would accept the situation.
The main obstacle to the establishment of order was the existence of some 400 forts.
Troops were not available to demolish these, even should the use of force have been
considered desirable. A beginning was made, by ordering one or two forts to be
demolished as punishment for offences, care being taken to select those within
easy reach, which could have been dealt with by the small Diwaniyah garrison
had necessity arisen. The system was gradually extended as a means of settling
disputes resulting from capture of neighbouring forts, &c. After a few weeks the
idea of demolition was no longer so abhorrent, and a tribe was induced to offer
to destroy all their forts. Although they, perhaps, did not expect the offer to be
taken too literally, an excellent loophole was thus afforded the A.P.O. A council
of selected Shaikhs was called, and they were asked to co-operate for the common
weal. They agreed that, if the order were made universal, they would begin
demolition on a given date. On the day in question work started, each section
demolishing, almost brick by brick, with its neighbour, on whom a watchful eye
was kept. By constant exhortation to further efforts, and frequent inspections of
each tribe, the last of 380 odd forts and towers was destroyed *a few weeks later.
Some attempts to rebuild were nipped in the bud, after which a period of peace
and safety ensued, which has endured.
The general opinion is undoubtedly to the effect that the revenue exacted
has been more than compensated for by complete safety now enjoyed, not to
mention the immense saving in expenditure, such as wages of sentries and bodv-
guards, watchmen, on crops, purchase of arms and ammunition, &e. He who
sows has now reasonable expectation of reaping, and the former professional fighter
has become an honest tiller of the soil.
General Distribution of Inhabitants .—The towns of Diwaniyah, Dagharah,
Qakat Haji Mukhif (Jikah) and ‘Afaj, have each a fixed population of, roughly!
8,000 souls. They were formerly invariably on bad terms with the surrounding
tribes, due to the depredations of the latter. The tribes of the district fall into
four main groups :—
(A) The Khazahl, who cultivate on the shores of Hor ibn Najm.
(B) The ‘Aqrah group, whose lands extend along both banks of the Dagharah
from its mouth to near QaTat Haji Mukhif.
(C) The ‘Afaj group, from Qal‘at Haji Mukhif to south of ‘Afaj.
(D) The A1 Budair group, at the tail of the Shatt Dagharah.
There are, in addition, two important separate tribes: (1) A1 Sa‘id and
(2) A1 Jalihah. Since this is the first annual report on the district, it may not be
out of place to comment on these groups in some detail.
The Khaza‘il, ‘Afaj and A1 Budair groups have recognised paramount shaikhs.
The shaikhly house of A1 ‘Aqrah has, however, long since become impoverished, and
has no power.
The Khaza‘il, by reason of their originally having come from the neighbourhood
of the Holy City of Mecca, rank first in the social scale, and are treated with a