'Mesopotamia' [‎10v] (20/152)

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G eographv
[No. 92
leads to friction, and sometimes to open rebellion, with
disastrous effects on the country. On such occasions
trailic is held up, crops are destroyed, and the banks
of the rivers are broken down. The Arab "knows
well that he can make better terms when obstructing
the trade than when living under the protection of the
Government." 1
The Arab is generally intelligent, quick, and ini~
pressionable; often he has a certain subtlety of mind
which is capable of a high state of cultivation. But
he is slovenly and uncreative in practical matters, and
is lacking in the power of co-operation and of sus
tained labour in the face of difficulties. He has a
natural bent for intrigue, is much under the sway of
personal ambitions and jealousies, and is very much
of a time-server. Tor the wilder tribesman blackmail
and thieving are normal and proper ways of earning a
living.
The Marsh Arabs," or Ma'adam, who are found
on both banks of the Tigris between Amara and Kurna
and in the neighbourhood of the lower Euphrates
below Suk esh-Sheyukh, are a peculiar people, non-
Arab in origin, living mainly by fishing and the pro
duce of their herds of bnffaioes, but cultivating here
and there a little rice.
The Kurds predominate in the hills, and, since
many of them dwell in Persian territory, their lawless
ness has occasioned much trouble on the Turko-Persian
frontier. They have little tribal cohesion, and are
addicted to blood feuds. The Kurd has not the in
telligence, subtlety, and imagination of the Arab, but
of the two he is the more industrious and capable
worker. In danger he is cooler and steadier, he has
a better physique, and altogether has greater physical
and mental stamina. But he is also more callous
than the Arab, and is extraordinarily reckless about
taking human life. He has the makings of a good
cultivator and a good workman, but has generally
1 Memoir \)ij Com tHundcr Felix Jones.
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