'Military Report on Iraq (Area 6 Lower Euphrates)' [‎23v] (51/452)

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are Sunnis,10 are Jews and 10 are Sabeans. The majority of the houses
aie of burnt brick. The town is surrounded by a fortified oat of repair
wall built by us, 8 feet high, with rained towers at intervals of 4U0
yards. This enclosed area is divided into two by the Shatt al Shatrah,
to admit of camping space within the walls on the left bank. The
streets are broad. The town is built 20 yards back from the river.
There is only ope mosque with a minaret, which commands the whole
town. Billeting accommodation for troops is difficult to find, as the old
Turkish barracks which were outside the wall to the North have been
completely wrecked. There is a serai in the town which would
accommodate one company.
Of the Shiah inhabitants almost every man is connected with either
the Sinajir or the Albu Shamkhi sections of the Abudah. These two
sections are at enmity with each other. They fought it out in 1917,
when the Alhu Shamkhi were beaten and their houses, in the North
part of the town, wrecked ; many of those have now (May 1920) been
lebuilt.
Khaiyun al ’Ubaid, the paramount shaikh of the Abndah, is the
shaikh of the Al Sinajir section, while Hassan al Jasim is shaikh of
the Albn Shamkhi. Both these men are trying to get the upper hand
in Shatrah. Khaiyun is at present the holder.
Industries .—The manufacture of copper and tin coffee pots and the
tinning of ghi, which is bought in large quantities by Shatrah
merchants from the tribesmen for export.
Supplies .—The following supplies, surplus to local requirements,.
are available.
Rice .—In January 2,000 tons, which gradually diminish as it is
exported until September when there is very little left.
Wheat and Barley .—inclusive to November inclusive, 500
tons of wheat and 2000 tons of barley. As soon as navigation via
Bad’ah channel is open the whole of this is gradually exported to
Basrah and elsewhere.
Idhra .—At the end of October 400 tons available ; it is gradually
exported till September when there is only very little left.
Mash .—In October there are 20 tons surplus, which also are gradu
ally exported.
Ghi .—Mostly in March. April and May—during which time 500
tins are usually available. There is a further supply but not so large
in October and November.
Transpo
'than 30 pa
Camels.-
the proper
obtained fr
notice bein
Bellums.
Water S
Bad’ah cha
then there i
June (whe
Shatrah ha:
bed. As m
from 6—12
to admit o
hut the wi
from the t<
well on tin
brackish,
suitable fo:
Many of th
Camping
the wall pei
June as tb
Unlimite
Right
space for ai
Aerodrot
mately £ m
Grharraf.
for landing
From tht
Gharraf. .<
(6) By W
is navigabh
off (3 miles
6 foot drau:
the Bad’ah
launches ca
Shatt-al Sh
Bad’ah cha
/