"تقارير إدارة أقسام ومناطق الأراضي المحتلة في بلاد الرافدين لسنة ١٩١٨. المجلد I" [ظ‎‎٢‎٠‎٠] (٤٧٠/٤٠٥)

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to murder Khaiyun, and the Sinajir have often attempted to get rid of Hasan
al Jasim, leader of the Albu Shamkhi. . .
The feud between these two sections reached its culminating point in September
1917. The Albu Shamkhi held a secret meeting and decided once for all to rid
Shatrah of Khaiyun and his clever secretary, Kadhim al ‘All Agha. Three men
were drawn by lot—two for Khaiyun and one for Kadhim al Ali Agha. P
was to shoot Kadhim al ‘ Ali Agha as he came out of the Serai one evening. At the
same time the two men detailed for Khaiyun would be waiting in the dusk outside
Khaiyun’s own house. It was anticipated that Khaiyun would rush out imme
diately on hearing of the death of his secretary and would be fired upon. ^ The
first part of the plan succeeded, and Kadhim al ‘Ali Agha was shot dead. Khaiyun,
however, suspected a trap, remained in his own house that evening and sent out
to faz‘ah the whole of the Sinajir. The next morning Khaiyun set out to exterminate
the whole of the Albu Shamkhi. Khaiyun’s methods were very thorough He
commenced with the houses of Salman and Hasan al Jasim and went through the
whole of the Albu Shamkhi quarter of Shatrah driving men, women, and children
before him. A party of Sinajir followed at leisure looting these houses and literally
razing them to the ground. The ruins remain to this day a very convincing
testimony of Khaiyun’s might and rage. The Albu Shamkhi were pursued to
their towers, about 3 miles north-west of Shatrah, and were there besieged. All
their villages to the north of Shatrah were ravaged, and not one hut was left
standing. One of the Albu Shamkhi escaped to Nasiriyah, and not until orders
came from the Political Officer there did Khaiyun return to Shatrah. The whole
question of “ fasl ” was settled, but it was not until my arrival here that the Albu
Shamkhi once more began to move freely in and out of the town. It was not until
the beginning of September last that Hasan al Jasim considered the situation
sufficiently quiet to visit Shatrah.
I am pleased to report that this feud is dying rapidly. There should be no
further trouble between these two sections.
Of the other sections of the ‘Abudah easily the most troublesome is the Albu
Nujaim. This section is situated directly west of Shatrah—about 6 miles out.
Until recently, the section was divided between two factions, one under ‘Araibi al
Wanis who looked to Suwailim al Hawowas for protection, and the other under
Muhanna al Barghash who was supported by Khaiyun. Recently I was able to
patch up the quarrel between these two turbulent spirits, and now they are great
friends. Their mukhtars were not so easily pacified, and it was not until two of
their towers were demolished that they became quiet.
One more section of the ‘Abudah must be mentioned—Al Jahl. It must be
mentioned only on account of its Shaikh—Suwailim al Hawwash. This Shaikh
is exceptionally strong, and he runs Khaiyun very close in the tribal race for influence
and support. Both are cruel—unmercifully cruel and unscrupulous. Khaiyun has
behind him a wonderful prestige, due, of course, to his having been Turkish
Qaimmaqam. This, however, Suwailim counterbalances by a nature more cunning
than it is possible to conceive. Al Jahl causes very little trouble—Suwailim is much
too strong to allow them to take liberties; but should, in future, any trouble arise
in the ‘Abudah, Suwailim’s cunning must not be forgotten, and his interests in
such troubles should be carefully investigated.
Khafajah .—Head Shaikh, ‘Ali al Fadhl. The Khafajah up to a short time
ago were the noted highwaymen of the district. The road from Nasiriyah to Shatrah
was never safe. Merchants were looted, girls were kidnapped, and free fights over
division of spoils were frequent. Nor can the tribe be called much to account for
this spirit of lawlessness. Easily the largest tribe in the Muntafik as regards
territory (of course, I exclude the Bani Sa‘id, which comprises a third of the whole
of the Muntafiq), the Khafajah has gradually died on account of the silting up of
the Shatrah River. The huge stretch of land between Shatrah and Nasiriyah,
once so flourishing, had become a real wilderness. The tribesmen of the Khafajah
found themselves without any means of livelihood. Two courses were only open
to them—either to migrate to the Mujanah and become subservient to the tribes
there, or else to gain their own living by resorting to lawlessness. There was no
Government in Shatrah, and so, knowing the Arab’s love for his tribe, his love for
raiding, and his hatred for anything which interferes with his freedom, it is not
to be wondered at that he chose to live by plunder. One section, the Al Shamkhi,
under Kazzar al ‘Ah, moved as a whole into Suq district, and settled down there
in the Shamiyah, acknowledging no overlord but Government.