'Handbook of Yemen' [‎21v] (47/190)

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San a, extending to Raudhah. There are other consider
able tracts of fertility in the vicinity, and clumps of trees,
chiefly tamarisk, give variety to the landscape. In spite
of its good water supply and elevated situation, San'a
is far from a healthy town, the inhabitants suffering from
fevers and a form of anaemia. The heat is never excessive
even in summer, and the winter is cold. Manzoni gives
the following thermometric observations; November, mean
maximum 70°, Fahr., mean minimum 52°; January 62°
and 40°; March, 73° and 52°.
(10) Dhamar, a large scattered town, is situated
in a flat plain, at an altitude of about 8,000 feet above
sea-level. It is not walled, as are most of the highland
towns, but is more or less defended by a series of small
and, for the most part, mud-built forts. There is a look
of prosperity about the place, many of the houses beino -
commodious and well built of stone, while in the centre
of the town there is a wide and rather handsome open
square. The government offices are here, and near the
square is the principal mosque in a walled enclosure which
is entered by three large gates. The population of Dhamar
is about 5,000, including the Jews who have a quarter
entirely to themselves, separated from the native town
by a large open space. The bazaars are notably pictu
resque, but contain little in the way of supplies ; there
clean W0 PUbllC bat ^ S ' and tlie streetiS are comparatively
(11) Yerirn, built partly on level ground and
partly on the slope of Jebel Samarah, at an elevation of
about / 000 feet above sea-level, is enclosed by strong
ri ir. f n gates ' tw( J towards south, one east, and
west It has a population of from 3.000 to 4,000 and
jltiTmi! P f li ]t 0f mud - ^ has its se p' arate
telegraphZf' " ^ iS 011 the