'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎136v] (277/470)

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was sentenced to three months’ rigorous imprisonment in addition to the majlis
decision, as the accused absconded and disobeyed the order of the Political Officer.
There were seven miscellaneous petitions regarding refusal to marry according
to tribal custom. Both the parties in all the cases came to a settlement when they
were referred to their Shaikhs through Mudirs. Details of cases settled by majlis
and approved of by the Political Officer are as follows :—
Offence. No. of Cases.
Murder - - - - - - -3
Theft and mischief - - - - - - 1
Robbery - - - - - - -1
Adultery - - ' - - - -2
Divorce - - - - - - -1
Elopement - - - - - - -1
Dispossession by use of criminal force causing breach of peace 1
Against marriage according to tribal law - - - 5
In one case the parties agreed to settle the dispute by going to Karbala and
swearing at the shrine of ‘Abbas. It should be noted that out of the three cases of
murder attributed to tribal disputes, one refers to murders committed twenty and
six years ago by both parties, who were tribes of Qaramshah of Nahr ‘Umar and
Hamadnah of Qurmat ‘Ali. In a case of breach of peace, one accused was discharged
and two were bound over to keep the peace for one year.
7. Education.— Education is now under a qualified Director and we have a
feeling of confidence that the difficulties which have stood in the way of advance
will be surely overcome. There is lively interest everywhere in education and
trained teachers have been made available to meet the demand of the villages for
schools and to improve the condition of the Government schools now in existence.
The American Mission boys’ school in ‘Ashar continues its excellent work in
primary and secondary teaching, with 100 boys on the roll. The same Mission
has a small girls’ school in Basrah City teaching the three Rs. and sewing. I am
particularly anxious to see established a Government girls’ school for Mahommedans.
a school for the daughters of men of good social standing who could afford to pay
high fees for its upkeep. Some of the leading men of the town have intimated
their wish to support such an institution. A college for the sons of well-to-do men
of all denominations seems very necessary. A central college at Baghdad such as
is under the consideration of the Director may suffice, but I think we shall have to
have our own institution here. I quote below extracts from the reports of Assistant
Political Officers :—
“ Basrah City Non-Government Schools .—There are in Basrah four schools for
boys and two for gills. Of the boys schools, the best is the Albert School, under
the Carmelite Fathers. It has an attendance of about 100 boys. The boys are
very keen and work hard. Their discipline is excellent, and the Fathers are to be
complimented on their work. The Fathers are now starting evening classes in
French, Arabic, English, bookkeeping and shorthand; but are badly "in need of
electric light to carry out this evening study.
The Chaldean School is insignificant, having not more than 25 unhappy-looking
boys in attendance. I have an idea that discipline sometimes in this school verges
on bullying. I should like to see the school closed down.
“ Ttie Jewish Boys’ School has an attendance of over 600 boys. It is very much
overcrowded and understaffed, and in the preparatory classes there is an insufficiency
of instruction. But under these difficulties the school does good work.
4 ‘ The Carmelite Convent School is hopelessly overcrowded. The French Sisters
do admirable work there with 300 girls and small boys. Like the Albert School it
stands in need of funds and support.
The Jewish Girls’ School has an attendance of some 220 girls. The attendance
has considerably decreased during the year owing to the return of Jewish families
to Baghdad.
•‘On the whole there is a great insufficiency of education in Basrah. The
suggestion put forward by the President of the Court of Wards for the beginning of
evening classes tor adult boys deserves recognition, and would, I think orove a
success, ’ ^