Page 292 - PERSIAN 2C 1890_1899_Neat
P. 292

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. ]
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