'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎126r] (256/470)

8. Miscellaneous : (a) Law and Order. — This has been fairly good in the
district during our occupation. Two Arabs were hanged on the Hit—Kubaisah road
in July 1918 for the murder of two sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. of the 97th Infantry, and it is considered
that this produced a good effect on the local population. One of the most serious
robberies reported was a case in which Rs. 2,615 and £T.12 were taken. This
occurred in July also.
The inhabitants of the district, being for the most part peaceful townsmen or
cultivators, are content to remain unaffected by tribal jealousy and quarrels,
provided they are allowed to pursue their several occupations unhindered.
(b) Resources and Industries .—Hit is said to owe its origin to its lime and bitumen
kilns just outside, which are said to have been worked for several thousand years.
Since our occupation, large quantities both of lime and bitumen have been exported
for the use of the Military; but, though it was necessary to concentrate chiefly on
their requirements, it seemed advisable to encourage private enterprise as far as
possible.
A product of the lime is the “ jus,” which is used extensively as cement. But it
has the disadvantage of not being impervious to water.
It is very cheap, costing even now, during the war, only Rs. 20/- a ton, but it
could never be exported for use in a wet climate.
Several salt pans lie just outside the town. These have hitherto been managed
by the local produce officer, but now that this Department is no longer represented
in Hit, the advisability of the Political Department taking them over is being
considered. It is questionable, however, whether this course is to be recommended,
since bv far the largest issues have been made to the Military, and but little revenue
would come in from this source.
Naphtha springs are said to exist to the north of Hit on the left bank.
Pottery is made on a fairly large scale, the chief demand being for the small
earthenware jars which, attached to the na urs, raise the water from the river.
Hit has a considerable export trade in the vessels in which Arab women through
out the country carry water from riverside to house. They are made from plaited
palm fronds and are finally given a waterproof covering of bitumen.
Dibs, or date treacle, is made on a small scale. Weaving is a minor industry.
Four or five years ago there was quite an important shipbuilding industry,
bitumen beino- used to render the craft waterproof. Large building yards were
situated on the southern outskirts of the'town, but the war has hampered the trade
and only a small number of cc asbiyahs,” u shahturs,” and qufahs ^ are built
at the present time. Every encouragement is being given to the expansion of what
will no doubt be, in time, one of the leading industries of ‘Iraq. , r/
Wood is exceedingly scarce, such supplies as there are coming from Dair al Zor,
250 miles upstream.
9 Conclusion. —The war has played havoc with this district as with every
other ’ and it cannot fail to leave its mark, which will be apparent for many
generations to come. But, even now, -trade, industries, and agriculture are showing
signs of a revival. It is, therefore, confidently to be expected that the Hit district
will become an important trade centre, for it has possibilities above those of the
average district in ‘Iraq in this respect.
G.S.S.
Geoffrey H. Shelswell, Captain,
Assistant Political Officer,
18th December 1918. jj