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The record is made up of 1 volume (76 folios). It was created in Feb 1919. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
72
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
[No. 92
The Arab has, however, come remarkably well out of
the tests which have been made of his industrial
capacity, both immediately before the war, when there
was a large demand for labour in connection with the
construction of the Hindie barrage, and since the mili
tary occupation by the British armies. Sir John Jack
son's firm, which constructed the barrage for the
Turkish Government, found that labour was plentiful
and good, except during the seed-time, harvest, and
irrigation periods. The employment of Arab labour
for military purposes on a large scale, and under organ
ized conditions, has brought out the following instruc
tive facts:—
(1) There is a considerable surplus of labour beyond
that required at present for the tilling of the
soil.
(2) If the demand for labour is made with reason
able consideration for the habits of the people, s
and for the fluctuating requirements of agri
culture at different seasons, no unwillingness is
shown in meeting it.
(3) Arab labour is extremely efficient and can com
mand high wages on piece-work. Those respon
sible for the recent organization of this labour
pay high testimony to its merits. They say that
the Arab is cheerful, uncomplaining, and wil
ling, that he does more than the average Indian
coolie
A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory.
, and is easy to handle if properly treated,
and provided that somebody is placed over him
to whom he can explain his grievances in his
own language, and scrupulous attention is paid
to tribal distinctions.
The Arab is less conservative than the Indian
coolie
A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory.
,
is easily taught, and readily adapts himself to modern
methods.
Sir William Willcocks has expressed the view that,
if Mesopotamia were made fertile by irrigation, settlers
would flock to the country, which would in a short time
become both populous and prosperous. This opinion
About this item
- Content
This volume is a confidential handbook on Mesopotamia prepared under the direction of the Historical Section of the Foreign Office, dated February 1919. There is a table of contents which includes the following chapters:
- I: 'Geography Physical and Political', including 'Position and Frontiers', 'Surface, Coast and River Systems', 'Climate', 'Sanitary Conditions', 'Race and Language' and 'Population';
- II: 'Political History', including 'Chronological Summary', 'Introduction', 'Early period of Turkish Occupation, 1638-1834', 'Later period of Turkish Occupation, 1834-1914', and 'Commercial Developments';
- III: 'Social and Political Conditions', including 'Religious', 'Political', 'Public Education' and 'General Observations';
- IV: 'Economic Conditions', including 'Means of Communication', 'Industry', 'Commerce', 'Finance' and 'General Remarks'.
There is also an appendix which includes tables of 'Exports to Principal Countries from Baghdad', 'Imports from Principal Countries to Baghdad', 'Principal Exports from Basra' and 'Principal Imports to Basra'. This is followed by a section entitled 'Authorities' which is a bibliography of references used for the preparation of the volume. This section is divided into 'Historical' (including 'Confidential Sources'), 'Economic' ('Official' and 'General') and 'Maps'. There is a pocket at the back of the volume to house maps, but there are no maps present.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (76 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Pagination: The volume contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'Mesopotamia' [41v] (82/152), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C190, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/mirador/81055/vdc_100023514036.0x000053> [accessed 3 August 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/20/C190
- Title
- 'Mesopotamia'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:75v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence