'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎210v] (425/470)

Administration Report of the Nasiriyah District for 1918.
1. Political and Tribal.— As I have been in charge of the district for only
one month, and as the amount which I know about it is infinitesimal compared
with the Political Officer’s knowledge of it, I shall not attempt to say anything
under this heading. The only case of any importance which I have had to deal
has been a dispute between Haji Muhalhil of the Ibrahim and Rudani of the
‘Asachrah. This has been settled.
2. Revenue : (a) Land Revenue. —This is the first time since the British
occupation that Shitwi has been collected in this district. Crops’ estimation was
carried out in April, and the revenue demand was equivalent to one-tenth of the
crop. The amount realised was Rs. 44,664/8/8/.
The estimation for saifi was made in October, and the demand amounts to the
value of one-fifth of the crop. The demand amounts to Rs. 5,845/12/6; it is being
collected.
As regards date revenue, I understand that a count of date-trees was made in
1917. Demands for revenue were made out according to the count. The revenue
this year amounted to Rs. 15,489/11/-. Figures have been given me purporting to
account for the number of gardens and date-trees in the district. According to these
figures, there are 287 date gardens, containing 81,343 trees. Of these, 74 gardens,
containing 20,808 trees, are ‘Ammar; 213 gardens, containing 39,568 trees, are
Kharrab, and 20,967 trees are reported as being “ non-bearing.” If, however, 74
‘Ammar gardens, which pay revenue at the low rate, contain 20,808 trees, it seems
strange that 213 Kharrab gardens, which pay at the higher rate, should contain only
39,568 trees. Although the number of Kharrab gardens is three times the number
of ‘Ammar gardens, yet the number of trees in them is less than twice the number
in the ‘Ammar. It would also seem that an excessively high number of* trees have
been classed as “ non-bearing.” The rates of tax are 5 annas per tree in Kharrab
gardens, and 2 annas 6 pies on trees in ‘Ammar gardens.
The following table shows the development of these three sources of revenue
since 1915 :—
f
1915-1916.
1916-1917. 1917-1918.
1918-1919.
Shitwi ....
Saifi -----
Date -----
RS. A P.
213 12 0
Nil.
6,820 0 0
RS. A. P.
Nil.
Nil.
9,193 0 0
RS. A. P.
Nil.
2,925 6 8
13,400 12 6
RS. A. P.
44,664 8 8
5,845 12 6
15,489 11 0
(b) Tapu. —The following fees have been taken by Tapu during the year:—
Registration of sale - - - - - Rs. 1,933/14/0
,, transfer on death - - _ _ 60/15/0
„ reconstruction of buildings - - _ 51/0/0
„ increase in number of buildings on given sites 10 / 1/0
Charges for sanads - - _ _ _ 242/0/0
Rs. 2,297/14/0
(c) Waqf.—There are no waqf funds in the hands of the Assistant Political
Officer.
(d) Miscellaneous ami Special Revenues : ‘Araq .—The contractor paid Rs. 15,000/-
this year as against Rs. 9,500/- last year. The amount paid to Government should
still further increase next year.
Opium. —This brought in Rs. 400/-, as against Rs. 270/- last year. The import
and sale of opium requires greater supervision than it at present obtains.
Fish Tax .—This amounted to Rs. 14,000/-, as against Rs. 6,550/- last year.
FLodah Tax. This has been in abeyance for the' last two years, but is to be
revived from 1st January 1919.
Vegetable Tax.—This brought in Rs. 1,887/- up to May. It was then
abolished.