'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎107r] (218/470)

respect almost equal to that manifested towards the Saiyids. As a result they
are overbearing m them attitude to others. The only Khaza'il Shaikhs with whom
the Diwamyah Administration is concerned are
( 1 ) Chassab al Hamadi.
( 2 ) Sahan al Shadan.
(3) Ghazi al Dirs.
rs ’ ^ 10 18 ^ ie Paramount shaikh, is occupied in cultivation. He is
s ow-wi ed, and, as a result, was dilatory in compliance with Government orders,
and had to be detained in Hillah as a corrective early in the year. He has since
behaved well. Besides Khaza‘il, he has a conglomeration of tribes under him, as
lallahs, over whom, until he received a measure of official support, he was able to
exercise little control; moreover, he was involved in an interminable quarrel with
j ^ re § a > 1 ( ^ m 8 ’ ^ ie land boundaries, which had been the cause of much
bloodshed previous to British occupation. The dispute involved many points of
dimculty and provided the most intricate of many boundary problems settled
during the year. Boundaries are now definitely fixed and the feud ended.
Sahan al Sha lan has at present practically no cultivation, his section being
camel owners. He is anxious to settle down, and it is hoped to provide him with
suitable land at an early date. He exercises a somewhat flimsy control over the
Beduin tribes of Al Qaraghul, Al Haraksah, and Al Shallal and has been most useful
in dealing with them, whilst employed in transporting the harvest and bringing
grain to Government Ambars.
The ‘Aqrah group consists of the following tribes :—
( 1 ) Al Shabbanah.
(2) Al Hamad.
(3) Al ‘Amr (and Al Hulailat).
(4) Al Qurush.
(5) Albu Nail.
( 6 ) Al Majawir.
(7) Al Zaiyad.
( 8 ) Al Murammadh.
( 1 ) The Shabbanah, numbering about 1,500 fighting men, cultivate on the
Shatt Dagharah left bank, opposite Dagharah town. Shaikh Sha‘lan al ‘Atiyah has
the tribe w^ell in hand, is popular, and has a high reputation for straightforwardness.
He has been consistently well behaved and helpful since the occupation.
(2) Al Hamad number some 1,800 fighting men, and include Al Zubaid, Al
Manasir, &c. They cultivate on the Dagharah right bank, downstream of the towm,
drawing water from the Nahr Chaichah. The tribe has a bad reputation. They
were all professional thieves and Shaikh Sa‘dun al Rasan is a crafty and unscrupulous
person, incapable of speaking the truth. He requires constant attention, and,
although his behaviour has improved, he would be the first to give trouble could
he gain an opportunity. He is very unpopular with his tribe and other shaikhs.
Under the Turks he was frequently in prison, and his tribe was once severely
punished by a large force, while he himself fled for some years to Ibn Rashid. The
actual management of the tribe is in the hands of his nephew Rasan, a promising
young man who would serve Government well as Shaikh. Sa‘dun’s recreation is
intrigue.
(3) Al 'Amr and Al Hulailat cultivate on both banks of the Dagharah from its
mouth to Lagharah town. The tribe had no recognised shaikh till, on admini
strative grounds, Haji Hamzah was appointed. He has to be constantly supported
in his position, but is gaining in efficiency. He is fortunate in possessing the support
of Husain al Salih of the Hulailat, a far wiser man, who would, however, not be
acceptable as Rais of Al ‘Amr. The tribe is poor and is ill-armed in comparison
with other tribes.
(4) Al Qurush, Shaikh Miz‘al al Raddam, are the original shaikhly house of
Al ‘Aqrah. They are greatly impoverished and for some years have led a
precarious existence, being in turn championed by Al Shabbanah, al Hamad, and
Al ‘Amr, and as often looted by the opposing party, and thus a constant cause of
warfare. To settle the difficulty and to provide for their inability, owing to prestige,
to reconcile themselves to a subordinate position, they have been permitted to deal
with Government direct, as a tribe—an arrangement which has met with universal