The Tribes of the Marsh Arabs of Iraq: The World of Haji Rikkan by Fulanain

Author:Fulanain [Fulanain]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Middle Eastern, Social Science, Political Science, Anthropology, World, Regional Studies, General
ISBN: 9781136193385
Google: ZS84DhbqvSUC
Goodreads: 18977125
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2013-03-07T00:00:00+00:00

* the first aeroplane seen by the tribes was taken by them for Jesus, Christ coming in person,

* Ezra’s tomb,

* As far back as the time of Harun al Rashid, the marshmen were notorious for looting and levying tolls on river craft. Later they even succeeded in cutting off the supplies of Baghdad, and an expedition (A.D. 834) was sent against them, several thousand being exiled to Asia Minor, whence they made their way to Europe as gypsies.

* Political Officer.

Chapter 8

THE FLAG OF ’ABBAS

SHORTLY after this exploit, another summons came to Haji Rikkan, and the decision he had to make was not an easy one. Should he become official marsh guide to the Political Officer? He turned the pros and cons over in his mind. The merit he had acquired as a Haji would mitigate the stigma of serving an infidel government; the dangers of the post would be compensated by the rewards, for surely one who threw into the river wealth which he might have put in his own pocket would prove a generous paymaster! On the other hand, the Turks might return with greater forces, and drive the unbelieving English into the sea; but this seemed to the Haji, for the present at any rate, unlikely. In the end he decided that the new opening offered better opportunities for his talents than the profession of “fence”. His judgement was vindicated when later, as will be related in its place, he obtained the lucrative post of Chicken Contractor to the Army of Occupation, which in its turn led to his present trade of peddling grocer. In the meantime it was with great relief that he learned of the transfer of the “Hot Hakim”, of whose rash and airy adventures he had thoroughly disapproved.

The new Political Officer, he told me, was a man of very different stamp, “small of body but great in guile”. While continuing his predecessor’s policy of suppressing the habitual raiding of the Ma’dan, he achieved success by different methods. The Haji, whose timorous nature ever chose the paths of peace, was loud in his praise of a diplomacy which was as effective as force could have been in stamping out robbery.

“Hardly will my words be believed,” he said, “but by thy head—and thou art dearer to me than a brother—I speak truth. Hast ever dreamed that a woman and a madman could do the work of sword and rifle? Never; yet the Hakim brought about no less.”

The first step of the new Political Officer had been to provide himself with transport with which the marsh Arabs could not compete. From the mass of river craft which was hurried out from home—though too late—to repair the army’s serious shortage on the Tigris, he obtained a launch of shallow draught. Small as she was, she could carry enough armed men to secure her from attack or ambush, and her speed gave her an advantage over all the craft of the marshes.

One day, as the little launch, with Haji

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