File 3540/1916 'MESOPOTAMIA 1920 PORTION (1)' [‎465v] (957/1006)

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Waqf receipt have increased, this year, figures are Rs. 3,659-8 for this
year as compared with Rs. 2,430 for 1918. •
EDUCATION.
The school opened about the middle of the month with a daily attendance
of 20 boys. This was due to the laxity with which Arabs treat all dates and
times and also on account of the rice cultivation and picking of early dates
(rotub). The number has now grown to about 60 boys and during the coming
month will probably increase to about 100. The headmaster wishes to obtain
another assistant, as there must be five classes this year. At present the
number of boys does not allow me to conscientiously apply for this. Several
larger boys of merchant families have been taking private lessons during the
vacation and are progressing quite well in the English alphabet.
MUNICIPAL.
The re-roofing of the bazaar has really commenced in earnest. Of the
10,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. worth of wood and iron purchased, Rs. 5,000 has already been
bought by shopkeepers. One or two of the town gates appear to be in a bad
state of repair, five gates appear to me to be too many to keep up in Suq eat
ing up.money, by way of police for guards, and expense for repairs. I pro
pose in the future when funds allow to make three or four gates only and re
build with brick on the lines of the recently-constructed gates in Nasiriyah.
Owing to lack of funds due partly to misappropriation, I have not been able
to embark on schemes for meat market and slaughter-house.. However having
brought the guilty to book and recovered some monies, I see brighter times
ahead. Details of the malpractices of the Baladiyah staff are being sent to
you in separate letter. Meanwhile, immediate action was necessary. I have
freed the Rais al Baladiyah and his clerk from their duties and appointed
provisionally a new Rais, Abdul Rauf ibn Haji Musa, with Taufik, the Majlis
clerk, to act as Baladiyah clerk also.
Pilfering has also undoubtedly been going on in the collection of landing
stage tax. As a result I am " farming ‘‘ this tax during the coming week.
HOSPITAL.
Daily average of out-patients ... ... ... ... 64 *
,, ,,in h ... ... ... ... 5.3
Minor operations performed ... ... ... ... 41
The common., disease of the district is disease of the digestive system,
mostly constipation. During the period under report a man came to the
hospital from Hammar, a place nearly 50 miles off from the town, whose
bowels had not moved for 10 days. His abdomen was distended like a drum.
He was given Enema and relieved immediately. He was asked to stay in
the hospital, but refused. A pound of castor oil was given with instructions
to take an ounce weekly. When the man was relieved of his trouble, he was
cursing the old Turkish Government saying that had not the British taken
the administration of the country his life was at an end.
The medicines largely required for the district are: Magsulph, Castor
Oil and Quinine Tablets. Patients from the remotest corners of the district
are supplied with purgatives and quinine pills. The health of the district
is reported good during the month.
TOURS.
The following visits have been made for the purposes, named : —
. Nasiriyah. Albu Saleh question—To meet Shaikhs and discuss policy
with Political Officer. J
Khamisiyah with P.0.—-Visit Shaikh and see country. between Suq
• and railway. On this occasion I rode by horse to TChaTnisiyah then by car
up to Nasiriyah thereby seeing most of the country although chiefly desert.
On the Suq-Khamisiyah journey difficulty was only experienced at one spot
where water still stood 3 feet deep in best crossing place.
Chabaish with P.O—Nieit Mudir see district. This took me through
Bam Said and through the Hammar Lake.
Um el Nhkhla with P.O.—Visit Mudir al Hassan discussed general
questions including the loss entailed by the silting of the Um pl Nakhla.
Mejeshiyah.—To inspect ring bund and re-assess dategardens.
. Al Shaddud.—Land disputes and visit to Shaikh. Another occasion
inspected pump of Haji Hassan el Shaddud.
. Hammar Lake^Inspect reclaimed land and appointment to adjacent
UILO€S.
MISCELLANEOUS.
During the month, I have had change of Head Clerk and Shafeek-has
been repatriated in his place Shafma has been appointed 'head clerk and
his place filled by a newitypist fresh from India. The thirdclerk, James,