'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎212v] (429/470)

said that, if it is once sown and properly looked after, the yielding of lucerne will
last for five or seven years.
Secondly, khasil (qasil) green crop of barley and wheat.
Thirsly, achrish (grass) green grass in hot weather.
Trees. —Following trees are found in Nasiriyah district:—Gharab, Sufsaf,
and Isal (all in gardens); Tarfah, Shank, and Qawaq (all in maidans), which are
proportionately few.
There is a great scarcity of firewood trees and it would be a good thing to start
arboriculture and a small forestry of Indian trees, such as Shisham, Ivikar, &c.,
which need little care and bring much profit.
Excise : ‘Araq. —It is given out on annual contract to one person, who does
both the manufacturing and selling of it. There is no still head duty, and a bottle
of ‘araq is still sold at Rs. 5/-. It is expected that an increment in revenue would be
got if a separate retail shop were opened, in addition to the present one, without
any restriction. (The present restriction is not to sell more than one bottle). There
is no supervision on still nor any proper record of the quantity of ‘araq manufactured
during the month.
Opium. —This is given on farm. The import of opium is from Persia. The
contractor receives the opium from the importers direct, without giving any know
ledge to the Revenue officials. All imports and delivery to the contractors should
be through the A.P.O.’s office, Revenue Branch.
Irrigation. —In Nasiriyah district there are about 50 big and small canals, in
existence since the Turkish times. The irrigation is mostly by flow, gardens
(especially) by lift. Following methods of irrigation are adopted :—
Flowing water; na‘ur (Persian wheel); karad; daki; pumps;
Pumping engines are very much desired by the Shaikhs.
Lands. —It is said that there are only two kinds of lands—miri and mamluk.
4. Education. —In the tribes there is no education. All are illiterate. If there
is any, it is limited to Quran-reading to children in Mosque.
5. Agriculture. —During last year 54 tons and 18 mds. of wheat and 57 tons
6 mds. of barley seeds were advanced to the . Shaikhs. Partly it was recovered in
kind and partly in cash. This year up to the end of 1918, 20 tons 2 mds. of Basrah
wheat and 70 tons 19 mds. of Karun wheat have been advanced to the Shaikhs
by the Agriculture Officer through the A.P.O.
6 . Establishment. —Up to November 1918 the Revenue staff consisted of :—
1 Revenue clerk, 1 Revenue assistant clerk, 1 tahsildar (for about two
months).
From December 1918, sanction was obtained for entertainment of a Mudir
Mai (Revenue assistant to A.P.O.) and two Tehsildars. To the former post M.
Muhammad Ramzan Khan, H.C., to A.P.O., has been appointed, and the entertain
ment of two Tahsildars are to be considered next month from among good honest
local Arabs.
The appointment of Mudir Mai will relieve the A.P.O. of a great portion of the
Revenue work (Supervision of Revenue establishment, to collect and check Revenue
accounts and to furnish A.P.O. with knowledge of local conditions in Revenue
matters). Also it will enable the A.P.O. to devote more of his time to tribal affairs.
The defects as mentioned above will be greatly remedied by the appointment of
Mudir Mai.
Ramzan Khan, Mudir Mai,
A.P.O.’s Office,
Nasiriyah.