'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎203v] (411/470)

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. 9. Muntafiq Horse. —Two squadrons of the Muntafiq Horse are always
stationed at Shatrah. The following posts are maintaned by these 100 men :—
Duwaiyah—one chaush and 10 men; Suwaij—one chaush and 10 men; irrigation
outposts (bund guards, &c.)—two chaushes and 20 men; surveyors escort -two
chaushes and 20 men. Thus, 60 are always out, leaving me with a striking force
of 40 sowars, should it be necessary to bring any recalcitrant Shaikh to book.
I should like to mention here the good work done by the Muntafiq Horse, and
especially by Saqban ibn ‘Ali al Fadhl and his squadron. Saqban is always ready
to serve no'matter when he is called u pon or what the nature of the work may be.
His squadron is the smartest of the battalion.
10. Town Police. —The Shatrah Town Police Force consists of one inspector
Husain Effendi, two Chaushes, two Onbashis, and 24 men. The men have been
well drilled and are very smart in appearance. Their duties are those of ordinary
town Police and they are, as a whole, quite an efficient body of men.
The new winter clothing has just arrived and is being issued immediately.
11. Labour. —The providing of labour for various works has been one s
greatest difficulty out here in this district. I have been called upon to supply
labour for the irrigation project and also for the railway project at Sayih. This
past season has been an exceptionally bad one for obtaining labour. The following
are some of the difficulties with which one was faced. First, when work was in
progress on the irrigation scheme, came the Sayih bombshell. Five hundred coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory.
were ordered to be sent to Sayih. The order was passed on to the Shaikhs, who
refused point blank to send their men to Sayih. The question was asked whether
they—the Muntafiq tribes—were considered common coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. to be ordered to work
away from their homes like slaves ? Such was the feeling, and it required a great
deal of persuasion to get them into Sayih. The very fact of getting them there
was a triumph. They were not there very long when the influenza epidemic broke
out. The Khafajah and the Albu Sa‘ad each had as many as 20 to 30 deaths a
day. This naturally took all the heart out of these people, and they cared not
what happened to them. At last the epidemic passed over and Muharram came
along. When Muharram was over, one looked for two months’ good work. Then
came the last blow—a very fine downpour of early rain. The opportunity was too
good to be missed. Early rain such as this, comes very rarely, and the labour began
to melt away and the ploughs become busy. These are a few of the difficulties
one has had to contend with. It is certainly not to be wondered at that the supply
did not come up to the demand.
12. Miscellaneous. —I should like to place on record, before closing, my
appreciation of the valuable assistance given me by Shaikh Khaiyun al ‘Ubaid.
Khaiyun’s position has been a most difficult one, for on my arrival he was compelled
to relinquish that which the ordinary Arab dearly loves—exercising authority. It
may be said that Khaiyun had his tribe to which to return. That is true. But it is
also true that the majority of influential Shaikhs of this district looked upon Khaiyun’s
return to Sudaifah as a defeat. It must have been a bitter pill for Khaiyun to
swallow. His assistance was, therefore, all the more praiseworthy. He helped me
to knock down idols which he himself had set up. This help, given when I most
needed help, was of more value than it is possible to realise. I therefore hope that
his good work will be placed on record.
G. A. Haysom, Captain,
Assistant Political Officer, Shatrah.
Copy to— ,
( 1 ) The Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, through the Political Officer,
Nasiriyah.
(2) The Political Officer, Nasiriyah Division, Nasiriyah.