'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎207v] (419/470)

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The following are two of the many cases which have been brought to my
notice:—
{a) The canal made last year by A1 Maiyah for A1 Fahawah muqata‘ah {see
previous note under heading Suraifiyin) takes off in A1 Maiyah territory and passes
through the lands of one Hasan Zuraiji, before reaching A1 h ahawah muqata ah.
When the Suraifiyin commenced cleaning out the canal, Hasan Zuraiji objected on
the ground that water flowing through his lands would flood them and destroy his
crops. A sanad has been taken from the Suraifiyin to the effect that they will make
good any damage caused by this canal.
(b) A muqata‘ah known as the Hamirah can be watered by one of two canals:
the Qarmat Shurwah or the Umm al Tamr. The Hamirah muqata ah is inland and
lies behind two other muqata‘ahs, each fed by one of the above-mentioned canals.
The Qaimat Shurwah was made by Yusuf al Khairullah, and was taken through
Ibrahim Beg’s property without the latter’s consent, in order to prevent the risk
of his own muqata‘ah being flooded by supplying water to the Hamirah muqata‘ah
from his own canal, the Umm al Tamr. Now Ibrahim Beg has taken a sanad from
Mohan to the effect that the latter will keep the Shurwah bunded and not allow
water down to the Hamirah. Mohan likewise wishes to keep the Umm al Tamr
closed. The result was that the Hamirah muqata‘ah looked like being left high
and dry without any irrigation canal whatever. I have decided to send a com
mission of Bani Richab Shaikhs to inspect the canals and report on the likelihood
of damage being caused to either of the muqata‘ahs through which these canals
flow.
It is to be hoped that very shortly the Irrigation Department will be able to
deal with such cases as these, for very often all that is required is the taking of a
few levels. It will, no doubt, be some time before the Irrigation Department can
take over the regulation of all these small canals. This control is much to be
desired, for at present water is either taken off indiscriminately and wasted, or
else one man refuses to let another man have water because of the fear of damage
to his own crops.
5. Agricultural.— There is not a great deal to report under this heading.
The majority of the crops grown in this district are winter crops and the muqata‘ahs
are very rich ones, indeed. There has been no attempt made to improve the crops.
No new seed has been available. Agricultural loans up to Rs. 20,000/- have been
sanctioned for cleaning out canals, purchase of ploughs, and the general improvement
of the various muqata‘ahs.
The early rain this year proved an unexpected boon. Ploughing and sowing
are still being carried on as energetically as ever and in many muqata‘ahs the work
is nearly over.
6 . Municipalities : (a) QaVat Silcar. — General .—Prior to the arrival of an
Assistant Political Officer in Qahat Sikar the affairs of the town were managed by
Shaikh ‘Atiyah. He kept the town clean, and as far as possible peaceful. He is
a strong man, and, like Khaiyun in Shatrah, levied and collected any taxes to which
he considered he had a right. Thus he is still cordially hated. However, he kept
order, and great praise is due to him.
The population of the town is a strange one—entirely Shi‘ah. Half of the
population are Arabs and the other half Kurds.
Improvements .—As in Shatrah, the great work of the year has been the building
of a town wall. Here too, strangely to report, a passive opposition was experienced.
This veiled hostility was no doubt caused by the merchants, who could see that
with the wall surrounding the town it would be possible, should occasion arise,
to control all merchandise. This opposition has, I am pleased to report, entirely
disappeared, and the merchants now know for the first time in their lives what it
means to live free from the constant anxiety of tribal raids.
The town has now two very fine gates and two watch towers. As there is
water at Qahat Sikar all the year around it has not been considered necessary to
build any wall on the right bank of the Gharraf.
A very fine market place has been built, in which the tribeswomen are able
to sell their produce. This is greatly appreciated.
Crime .—There has been exceptionally little crime in the town, an occasional
robbery being all that has disturbed the peace.