'Handbook of Yemen' [‎23v] (51/190)

and sometimes an acre or so ; the soil often is only a foot
or two deep. Great care has to be taken to prevent the
destruction of the terraces by accidental water-courses
caused by thunderstorms. Every accessible and suitable
spot on the mountain-side is utilized. Many of these
terraces were constructed centuries ago, and they give
a peculiar and characteristic aspect to the Yemen landscape.
The watering is done from cisterns of cemented masonry
built in every cleft or ravine where surface-water can be
intercepted. Some centres are comparatively sterile and
devoid of plantations, since cisterns are not practicable.
The harvest is generally in autumn ; but the berries ripen
at different intervals, according to their position on the
tree and the amount of sun to which a plantation is exposed.
The Harraz district produces the coffee of highest quality,
and that grown by the Anis and Beni Matar (tribes in
the Siham basim) is also well known. Ta'iz is the centre
of the southern coffee district. Coffee is still undoubtedly
the most important crop of the Yemen, in spite of prices
having fallen owing to the competition of Brazil and to
the present insecurity and difficulty of transport. Local
consumption is enormous, but the thrifty Arabs use (and
seem to prefer) the husk, keeping the berry for market.
The outlets for the marketable berries are Hodeidah and
Aden, but increasingly the latter, because of the compara-.
tively greater security of the trade routes.
The other main crops of the highlands are barley, bearded
wheat, millet, vegetables, and kat. The latter calls for a
passing notice. The plant, Katha edulis, resembling the
spindle-tree, is cultivated in Yemen over limited areas
in such districts as suit it, at an altitude of about 5,000
feet. It is tended with zealous care in walled enclosures,
and is perhaps the most profitable of all the Yemen products.
The tender leaves^ and twigs are the valuable part of the
plant, and are chiefly in demand. The habit of chewing
these, for their exhilarating and stimulant properties, is
almost universal among the inhabitants of south-west
Arabia. The only implements used by the highland farmer