ملف ٤٧٢٢\١٩١٨ الجزء ٨ "بلاد الرافدين: الوضع" [و‎‎١‎٥‎٣] (٩٩٥/٣١٦)

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is intensely disliked by the tribes of the district, his power* over them is con
siderable owing-, to his being able, ( 1 ) to cut oft their entire water supply ( 2 )
his wealth.
When Haji Mukhif was deposed by the Political Officer, Diwaniyah, in
the middle of 1917 and placed under A.P.O., Diwaniyah, Mandhur al
Abdullah of the Ghanim tribe (the real paramount Shaikh) was nominated in
his stead, but in the summer of 1919, his ikramiyah as paramount Shaikh was
withheld owing to his resisting miri demands and his lack of co-operaton with
the A.P.O. in dealing with the tribes.
The withholding of the ikrami of Mandhur al Abdullah proved to be the
greatest assistance to the A.P.O. up to the time he'was withdrawn from Afaq
inasmuch as Mandhur, hoping to regain his lost prestige, as well as fearing
and Gating Haji Mukhif, helped in the maintaining of law and order in the
district to the best of his ability.
The tribes of the district are as follows: —
Afaq Confederation.
Al Bahahithuh
Shaikh Hajji Farman.
Al Hamzah.
Shaikh Abdul al Hamid.
Al Shi’bah.
Shaikh Rasan al Shabib.
Al Mukhadhirah.
Shaikh Dhahir al Farban.
Albu Nashi.
Muhammad al Bad’ah.
Al Ghanim.
Mandhur al Abdullah.
Al Juhaish.
Manahir al Maqotar.
Al Budair.
Al Farahnah.
Hajji Saqban.
Al Farahnah.
Shaikh al Hajji Shahad.
Albu Khalaf.
Suwaiyir al Salman.
Albu Husain.
Faisal al Muzai’il.
Afaq from lone 31sf to July 28th.
Prior to July 1st, the A.P.O. had been out on crop assessment and know-
in<>- that there was considerable unrest in the country had in every way endea
voured to sound Shaikhs and Sarkals as to their feelings. Their answers
proved to be in every way favourable and their subsequent behaviour indicates
that the sentiments "expressed were genuine. They one.ami all informed the
A.P.O. that they had never had such prosperity in their lives and expressed
their hopes that the present Administration would long continue.
When the trouble actually had started in Dagharah and Sa £ dun al Hasan,
Mudhir al Baji Saqab and others had refused to come into the Political Officer,
Saivid Hashim, the Pais Baladiyah at Afaq, came to the A.P.O. and informed
him that the Shaikhs of the district and townspeople were desirous of making
•i Madhbatah expressing their hopes that the British Government would retain
"the mandat* in* W The otter',va, reported to the VO and Saiyrd Hasbtm
was informed that if the Shaikhs wished to make a Madhbatah the A.I .<>.
would accept it.
The Madhbatah was written and signed by every /Shaikh, Sarkal and
Saivid of any importance in the district. Haji Saqban who at the time was
in Biwanivah working under the Political Officer came out to Afaq m order
to si-n the document. This aged Shaikh did more than any one else to help
Political Officer in Diwaniyah. His faith m the British Government patent
and unquestonable and the Afaq Shaikhs knowing his unfailing clear sighted
ness, followed his example. It was only a few days after the signing of the
Madhbatah at Afaq that certain of Dagharah tribes and the Pumaithah tubes
■openly rebelled and the road to Diwaniyah was closed. The telephone was cut
between Dagharah and Diwaniyah thus closing all communication between
thl P 0 and \ P 0 at Afaq. The Political Officer, Diwaniyah, arranged to
keep the A.P.o‘. posted as best he could, but only part of the letters sent over
arrived.
As soon as communications were cut, the A.P.O. sent for all the Afaq
Shaikhs to come to see him. On their arrival they were told that it would he
as well for them to stay in the town of Afaq m case they were wanted. They
all without any question took up their quarters in the town.
From the 5th July, it became evident to the A.P.O. from certain Shaikh s
manners that propaganda was being spread among the tribes to make them
split among themselves. In Al Hamad, and Bahah.tl.ah nhe, Haj. Salah
the nephew of Haji Mukhif availed upon Ghawi (al Hamaah) Abdul Earn, and
Haiwawi (Bahahithah) to do all in their power o create d.s mhances m the.,
tribes and lessen the power of their Shaikhs while Basaii .il Shahib, S mil.
af Shi‘bah, who is the puppet of Ha.U Mukhif, commenced to build a Qal ah
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