'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎122r] (248/470)

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Kodah, in spite of ^ the diminished number of sheep—due to the requirements
of the Force, which seriously depleted the available stock last year (1917), and the
unfavourable yeai that last year was for sheep, owing to the drought—has reached
a satisfactory figure through careful collection, and has realised in Fallujah district,
on camels, buffaloes, and sheep, a sum of over 35,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
Land revenue (from fixed assessments and conversion into cash of summer
crops share) has already realised over 59,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , and is not yet finished.
Last winter’s crops brought in a total of over 1,400 tons of barley and over
230 tons of wheat. As already stated, it was an unusually unfavourable season
for winter and summer crops, and, with the assistance of the Saqlawiyah canal,
newly opened, and the excellent excavation of the existing Abu Ghuraib canal, it
is probable that these figures will be doubled in the coming year.
(b) Tapu. There is very little tapu in the Fallujah district, with the exception
of the following estates mentioned below.
These are the tapu estates of Hassai, Nassaf, ‘Amriyah, Muwailhah, all on the
right bank of the Euphrates, extending nearly the whole length of the district, and
owned by the Bait Kuyumjian, an Armenian family.
The Radhwaniyah estate, owned by Salim Zaibaq, Pachahji and Co., on the
left bank all along the Radhwaniyah canal.
Salim Zaibaq also owns ‘Ujair, Batrah, and Buzaibis on the right bank.
Two small tapu properties cultivated by the Albu ‘Alwan and Halabsah on
the right bank, where marked on the accompanying map.
Jubail, owned by Ismail Effendi on the left bank below Fallujah.
Kharab, owned by Hasan Beg on the left bank below Fallujah; and the
estate of Mahmud Shahbandar (prisoner of war), rented to Muhammad Sa‘id of
Fallujah at Rs. 2,000 per annum. This is the Abu Sudairah estate already
mentioned.
The Radhwaniyah property has undergone considerable changes since last
year. The canal, being unfavourable, has not again been excavated this year, and
accordingly most of the Chadadah tribe have moved away to cultivate the newly
opened up Yusufiyah canal in Musaiyib district. As this is also largely in the
property of the Radhwaniyah Company, the change is decidedly profitable to
them.
Tapu registration, or rather verification, of existing tapu deeds, has been
recently commenced.
(c) Waqf .—Fallujah contains a well-built mosque on the river front. The
waqf endowment is Sunni waqi, and is employed for the upkeep of the mosque and
waqf buildings, and payment of the salaries of the mudarris and mosque servants,
etc. The waqf comprises rent-paying property of shops and a large ambar, and
a coffee-house, bringing in a monthly rental of from Rs. 142 to Rs. 167.
The pay of the establishment only amounts to Rs. 45 monthly; so that the
Fallujah waqf is entirely self-supporting, and leaves a good margin of profit over
for repairs and upkeep.
(d) Miscellaneous and Special Revenues .—Petition stamps realise from. Rs. 100-
250 per month. The Fallujah fish tax is farmed, and brings in a total of about
Rs. 450 per annum. There are practically no other small sources of revenue, except
taxes on jus burning, etc.
(e) Customs .—Customs duties were collected earlier in the year on imports
of tobacco into Fallujah district, but, after the prohibition of future direct imports
into Fallujah and the diversion of this traffic to Baghdad, customs receipts ceased,
Over 3,300 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. were, previous to the above orders, collected in Fallujah on
importations of tobacco.
There are no other sources of customs at present.
(/) Compensation .—Claims for compensation have not been numerous during
the past year. In May 1918 it became necessary to assess compensation payable
on account of damages caused to crops by the construction of the railway to Sinn
al Dhibban, and the formation of railhead camp there. Twelve cultivators were
affected, and compensation paid amounted to Rs. 3,536/14/-.
The only other case was compensation paid on account of inability to cultivate
shitwi and saifi crops on a small plot of land ( 1 | bal::as tapu) owing to its occupation
by the camp at Shaikh Habib. Compensation was paid amounting to Rs. 225.
x IO 1162—1 R