1 86 Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates, [ch. xxiv. 



wealthy pastoral population. It was never intended 

 for any other. Indeed I doubt if it would not be 

 an economical mistake to encourao;;e the cultivation 

 of all the lands which could possibly produce a crop* 

 For full use to be made of the desert all the year 

 round, some reliable pastures should be reserved for 

 seasons of drought and for the extreme heat of sum- 

 mer. I believe the occupation of these in Algeria 

 by European farmers has not been on the whole an 

 advantage to the colonial revenue. What should 

 be the aim of a wise government in Northern 

 Arabia is, not to force its nomades to settle down as 

 villagers, but to encourage the warlike tribes to give 

 up their wars. This can only be done by showing 

 them the advantages of peace, and giving security 

 to all who do not wish to fight. Rich people, 

 Bedouins or others, have little temptation to high- 

 way robbery.'"' 



At the present moment then the Turkish Govern- 

 ment again holds the Euphrates and the greater 

 part of the Tigris valleys, with the plain of Irak 

 southwards from Bagdad. It also has got possession 

 of certain isolated points in the desert itself. Tud- 

 mur has been occupied and is now administered by 

 a Turkish Mudir, and tribute is levied on aU the 

 small towns and villages of the Jebel Amur and 

 Sinjar. Caravans under escort can now pass with 



* The French have succeeded as admirably by such a policy in. 

 the Sahara as they have failed lamentably in their agricultural 

 schemes for Algeria. 



