"كُتيّب اليمن" [و‎‎٦‎١] (١٩٠/١٢٦)

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Water is plentiful and good throughout, except on the
desert stages. Other supplies, such as fodder and grain,
are plentiful.
Our account of Route No. 7, from San'a up to Makhlaf,
depends on native report alone, and distances and details
in connexion with it must be accepted with all reserve.
It is said to be a regular caravan track. The Yemen
section of the route is mountainous. The continuation
north-eastward from the plateau about Makhlaf to
Riyadh is at first a purely desert route, and throughout
traverses some of the least known parts of Arabia. The
journey would be a severe one both in the mountains
and the desert sections, and suitable for the most part
for Dhelul (female camel) riders only.
The road from San'a to Dahran (Route No. 8)
was traversed by Glaser in 1884 as far as Khamir ; but
from there onwards only native information is available,
and the details and distances given are unreliable. This
is the main highland road from the Yemen to the Hejaz,
and is much used by pilgrims. There is also considerable
export of coffee for Asir which passes along it, chiefly from
the districts of Jebel Razah and Khaulan.
Little is known about its supplies ; but indigent pilgrims
are said to be able to beg their way from San'a to Ebhah
'without any difficulty.
Route No. 9 is the trunk road up to the Yemen
highlands and along their axis to San'a from Aden.
From Qa'tabah to Yerim it lies through wild broken
country with sudden steep ascents and descents and gener
ally is bad going ; it is suitable for most part for mules
only. Harris describes this section of the route as "of
the greatest difficulty ; wild broken country; road grows
rougher as it proceeds." From Yerim to San'a there is
a succession of high plains divided by rough but not very
elevated ridges. The going is good on the whole, but with
some difficult ascents and descents. I 1 he last stage, after
Wa'alan, is quite easy.