Page 292 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

APPENDIX B TO PART V.
Conditions ok Datk Cultivation in Pkusian Arabia.

Tenure.—Tho dato pardons arc held on payment of half the crop to tho owner of the soil.
When tho dates are noarly ripo, an estimate of tho crop is made by the employes of the
Mucz-cs-Sultaneh, who claims all laud in tho Mohammerah district, and the headman of the
village, or of each group of gardens, is invited to guarantee half this estimate, which is always
excessivo. Some outsider generally offers to take tho gardens on this estimate, and unless tho
headman for himself and tho othor dato owners agreo to this cstimuto, they avo turned out of
tho gardens and of their houses until the crop is gathered, the mag who has accepted, with his
men, beiug put in in their place. To avoid this, tho garden-owners generally guarantee an
excessive crop, aud it often happeus that they have actually to buy dates to make up the land­
lord’s estimated half crop. Consequently the fcllahin take littlo care of the trees, and land is
goiug out of cultivation. On the Turkish sido of tho river, though the teuure is ou the same
terms, it is differently carried out. Thorc the crop is valued twice, once by tho Government
for the tax, and once by the landlord. The landlord arranges with each occupier separately;
in the event of disputes, the occupier gets half of his valuation aud the landlord tho balance,
aud iu no case is a stranger put in. This works well.
Ownership of the land.—The Sheikh of Moharamorah claims and is in possession of the
whole of the laud in his district; but tho Peisian Government claim that the laudlord belongs
to the State. The Arab claim appears to be that the district is under Persian protection for
which they pay tribute, and is nut an integral part of Persia. Tho Chaab, accoidiug to their
owu histories, have ouly been iu thc^e parts since A.D. 1090. They havo paid tribute regular­
ly to Persia siuce about A.D. 1763. The Sheikhs of the Muheseu tribe have boen appointed
Governors of Mohammerah district by tho Persian Government for 6omo forty years. Previ­
ously this district was under the heieditary Sheikh of the Chuab at Dorak-el-Fellahieh.
Reclamation.—The reclamation of waste or new ground is as follows. The fellahin
receive the land rent-free for a period of ten to fifteen years on the condition that they make
the necessary dams aud iriigation cauals and plant dato trees to be in bearing at the expiration
of the period. They plant corn, beans, roses, appleB, melons, and flax, and make a fair profit;
at the end of the period they can continue to occupy ou condition of handing half the crop to
the landlord. This reclamation is principally goiug on at Gusba of the Nessar tribe near the
mouth of the Shatt-el-Arab. Opposite there,’at Fao, ou the Turkish 6ide, the land has all been
reclaimed on these terms, aud most of tho occupiers there were originally poor fellahiu. Their
sons to avoid the Turkish couscription are now taking up the waste ground at Gusba, and
much laud is now being reclaimed there.
Conclusion.—The present crops could be at least doubled, and perhaps quadrupled, by the
bringing of new or waste ground into cultivation, and the paying of moro attention to the
present trees. If planting were encouraged a crop could be obtained, on part of the grouud
reclaimed, after seveu years of occupancy. Date trees do not make much progress while other
crops are grown round them, as the roots require space; therefore it must bo made to tho
interest of the planter to encourage tho growth of the trees.
w. McDouall,
//, II. Alls Vice-Consul, Mohammerah.

Government of India Ceutrnl Priotiug OlHco—No. 142 F. D. 1-1-W 1^4 [E. 1. ]