'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎192v] (389/470)

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from Nasiriyah to Suq to protect this district, which would secure an area of
90,000 acres from floods during the flood season.
In other parts of the district the tribesmen are chary of cultivating this year,
owing to the change in local conditions, due to the Hammar Lake dredging
operations, the results of which cannot be foreseen or calculated. The river, too,
is unprecedentedly high for this time of the year.
Idhrah {Millet) Revenue. —This crop has likewise been estimated by eye. Ihe
total crop, as estimated by local men, is as follows :—
Serial Number.
Name of Tribe.
Quantity.
Maund (168 lbs.)
1
Al Jumai‘an
1,150
2
Albu Salih
320
3
Al Rahamah
1,155
4
Al ‘Asachrah
340
5
Bani Khaiqan -------
212
6
Al Juwaibir -------
4,412
7
Hammar Lake
7,720
Total -------
15,309
Of the above, revenue is being remitted from A1 Juwaibir crops, as these were
unfortunately totally ruined through flood water. This at one time escaped from
the south side of the Hammar Lake, but was held up this year by the new dredger
bund. The result in this case was that cultivated land lying in the north side
of the lake was flooded and all crops were lost. I visited the whole of this area
myself and found that the crops were then under about one foot of water. This
was duly reported to the Political Officer, who ordered total remission of revenue
on all crops damaged by floods. Revenue has not hitherto been collected from
idhrah crop. The amount due this year is • Rs. 15,256/11/- and is shown in
Appendix A.
Rice Revenue. —On the whole the rice crop this year is said to have been a
good one, but here, again, owing to the sudden rise in the river at the most critical
period, due to the opening of the Hindiyah Barrage, large areas of paddy fields
were flooded and totally ruined.
The work of measuring up paddy fields was entrusted to two Mudirs.
Shaikh Farhud al Mughashghash, Mudir of ‘Akaikah and Hammar, and Shaikh
Hammudah, Mudir of Al Hasan, the former measuring all rice lands in the Bani
Khaiqan Confederation, and the latter all lands in the Mujarrah Confederation.
This work has just been completed, and the results are as follows :—
Serial
Number.
Name.
Gubbalah,
(51 of acre.)
Ruined by Floods.
Total.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
1
Bani Kahiqan
4,682
1,792
6,474
2
Mujarrah
6,403
1,745
8,148
Total -
11,085
3,537
14,622
Apart from the heavy damage caused by floods, a certain amount of damage
was caused by early rains and a hailstorm.
The revenue that it is estimated will be collected from this crop is shown in
Appendix A. and amounts to Rs. 173,058/-. As will be noted, rice revenue will be
one of the main sources of income of this district; but it now remains to be seen
whether Government will continue to take such a high tax, as it may be impossible
for this country to compete with others as regards export trade.
Miscellaneous and Special Revenues : Fish Tax. —This tax is farmed. The increase
in revenue, compared with last year’s receipts, amounts to Rs. 4,800/-.
Tohacco Tax. —In accordance with instructions received from the Revenue
Officer, Basrah, a tax was levied on tobacco on 1st April 1917. The increase in