'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎128r] (260/470)

(c) Abut Khasib Nahiyah. South .—-The Northern Fao boundary.
East. The Shatt-al-‘Arab along the line fixed by the Turco-Persian Boundary
Commission (including the islands of Umm-al-Kosasif and Shumshumiyah) up to
the Sarraji creek, i.e., low-water level on the left bank of the Shatt-al-‘Arab from
the Fao boundary to Tuwaijit, a point 4,650 feet south of the left bank of the Karun
River at its junction with the Shatt-al-‘Arab, thence a line following the centre of
the main stream as far as the Nahr Khaiyun. From the Nahr Khaiyun the
boundary follows the centre of the main stream to a point opposite the left bank
of the Sarraji creek at its junction with the Shatt-al-‘Arab.
North. The left bank of the Sarraji creek, then north-west along the edge of
the desert up to the railway line at the Zubair Gate, Basrah, keeping Military Camps
to the east, and along the Zubari railway line (excluded) to the station at its
junction with the Jabal Sanam railway line.
West. From the above junction down to the head of the Khor Zubair and
along the latter on its left bank to the Fao boundary.
(d) Harthah Nahiyah. West .—From Rumailah station (excluded) along the
railway line (excluded) to the Zubair railway station (excluded).
South. From the Zubair railway station (excluded) along the railway
(excluded) to the Jabal Sanam junction (excluded). Thence to Basrah along the
railway line (included).
East. From Basrah (excluded) along the railway line (excluded) to the
Pontoon Bridge at Qurmat ‘Ali, then along the Euphrates right bank to the Shatt-
al-‘Arab and along the latter northwards to Nahr ‘Umar (Nahr Shuhail) following
the centre line of the river, the island of Muhammadiyah (included).
North. A line drawn across the marshes running south-west from Nahr
Shuhail, through ‘Asarah to Rumailah station (excluded), Aleva included.
Basrah Municipal Area .—Lying within the Sanjaq limits is the Basrah
Municipal Area, which extends from the Sarraji creek on the south to the Euphrates
on the north; on the right bank, the desert being the western boundary, while
on the left bank it comprises the Tanumah Military Area, which is bounded on the
east by the desert, on the west by the Shatt, and on the north and south by lines
drawn at right angles from the mouth of the Chabasi creek and from a point opposite
Sarraji creek respectively.
Zubair Tribes .—Description of political and tribal affairs in this district must
keep Zubair very much in a separate compartment, and I quote below in extenso
that portion of the report of the Assistant Political Officer which falls within the
scope of this chapter:
“ (a) Dhafir.— The Dhafir tribes occupy the northern area of the district.
They were, in the beginning of this year, at Shaqrah, Dafinah, and Jahb Sadun.
Durmg the hot weather most of the tribes lived near the river off Safar m
Nasariyah Division, the remainder were at Jalib Sa dun and Haisamah. They
have now all moved out to Shaqrah again. _ i ^i • +
“The Shaikh, Humud Suwait, is wily and elusive and nothing great can be
expected ot him. He is weak in character and easily cowed to submission. He
has been pinned down to providing his share of men for Shabanah work on the
B N Railway line, but he did not take to it with good grace and the men are
poor in quahty. Humud was brought to make peace with the A.] man on their
arrival in this area, and later with the Shammar when they flocked m from the
Tawal. He kept his pact with the ‘Ajman, but allowed, and I believe encouraged
his men to annoy the Shammar in every possible way. This tribe is not as
in come as its neighbours the Shammar ^ ‘Ajman and its ^
nearly as independent in character. Many of them come to Zubair foi coolie A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory.
“ (b) Shammar.— The Shammar tribes, under our control during cold weather,
occupy he d"t called the Tawal, which includes Bir Umm Rahumah and Bir
UnsTb and in the summer months were , near the river between Luqait and
Rumailah. They went to Chabdah at the end of summer a„ d have now moved
out to Ichlawi. The tribes are very scattered, the reason being that their
paramount Chief, Ibn Rashid, remained in the pay of the enemy and was away
fighting his battles.