'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎186r] (376/470)

demands can be made on the area under cultivation simply by measurement off
txlG IXlEtp.
Rice Revenue was taken during 1918 for the first time for 15 years, and, as
T P 0 C S S uq° f thG dat6 C ° Unt ’ reflects the very greatest credit on Captain Ditchburn,
Saifi or Summer Crop Revenue was largely a failure during 1918, owing to floods
and a violent hailstoim, which robbed Government of some 30,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
wpj 36 taken in 1919 for the first time and should realise about Rs. 30,000
For further details see Appendix M. (Revenue).
Shatrah. This district was only taken over in May 1918 and it was thought
advisable to refrain from taking any Revenue on the shitwi crop, though Khaiyun
al Ubaid, Rais of Abudah, offered Rs. 50,000/— for the farm. The saifi crop will
realise Rs. 38,300/- and should increase to about 60,000 during 1919. No proper
_ haras was made, only an approximate demand. The 1919 shitwi crop should brino 1
in Rs. 80,000/— or thereabouts, while kodah should produce about Rs. 20,000/—.
We may assume, therefore, that for 1919 the Shatrah subdivision will begin to pay
a good revenue, where up to date we have made no demands at all. For further
details see Appendix N. (Revenue).
Qal at Sikar. Like Shatrah this district was only occupied last summer, and
up to date no demands have been made on the tribes, for political reasons. ' Full
shitwi, saifi and kodah revenues will be taken during 1919 and it is expected that
a total of some Rs. 2,23,000/- will be obtained.
In conclusion, circumstances and the peculiar conditions of the Muntafiq have
in the past forced us to be content with a modicum of income. This state of
affairs, I have every hope, will largely be put right by the end of 1919. At the
same time in fairness to the local administration it should be realised that the
pacification of the whole area, more especially the Gharraf and the maintenance
of law and order is carried out entirely by locafShabanah forces (mounted and foot).
One infantry regiment and one squadron cavalry only now exists at Nasiriyah,
and, though our budget estimates for the Divisional Shabanah reaches the large
total of Rs. 6,00,000/- for 1919-20, I think that, in fairness to us, there should be
deducted from this total the estimated cost of military garrisons which might very
easily have been necessary at such places as Suq al Shuyukh, Shatrah, Qakat Sikar
and Karradi. I hope, therefore, due regard will be taken of this fact alone when
our Shabanah estimates are considered, and when a general survey of the expenditure
and income of the Muntafiq Administration is made.
I think one can justly be proud of the fact that in probably the most turbulent
division in Mesopotamia it is only considered necessary to maintain one Indian
infantry regiment. As a matter of fact, in my opinion there is no longer any actual
need of a regiment even at Nasiriyah, provided there is a strong striking force at
Baghdad or Basrah. All that is required here is a few troops to guard military
stores, &c., in the vicinity of the railway station. What is needed is either a
large force in Nasiriyah, which will absolve Baghdad or Basrah from responsibility
on the middle Euphrates, or nothing at all.
4. Irrigation.—I am pleased to record that my relations between D.I.O. and
myself continue to be most cordial.
The following are the principal works completed and in hand :—
(a) The Bad'ah bund and Shatrah scheme.
(b) The Euphrates (Ghafiliyah) Khamisiyah canal.
(c) The straightening and revetting of the left bank of the River Euphrates
with stone facing in front Nasiriyah town.
(d) The Hammar Lake scheme.
As regards (a), the bund has been completed across the Bad‘ah and all bye
passes dug, and to-day, the 6th January 1919, water has been let down the Shatrah
river. For full description see under Irrigation, Appendix N.
Owing to unavoidable labour troubles and the early rise of the Gharraf waters
the scheme as originally arranged has not been completed. The actual cleaning
out of the Shatrah river bed between that town and Hamzah has yet to be done.
It is hoped that the autumn of 1919 will see this completed. The half-completed
scheme is, however, of inestimable value. Fhe Khafajah tribal country will get
a full flow of water two months earlier than usual and twice as much as