'Handbook of Yemen' [‎60r] (124/190)

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XL—COMMUNICATIONS
Little is known of the road from Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Ain to Hodeidah,
described in Routes Nos. 1 and 2. It passes over
the usual open sterile country of the iihaina.h but is reported
supplied with sufficient water, fuel, and fodder for small
caravans. Food supplies can be obtained at Loheiah,
Zahirah, and Zeidiyah. In addition to the ordinary traffic,
it is frequently used by Turkish troops and convoys, and
is certainly passable by 500 Turks with four to six guns
in one party.
The road from Hodeidah to Mokhah (Route No. 3)
joins up the starting points of the two main routes leading
from the coast to the interior (Routes Nos. 5 and 6).
It is, however, not more than a track and little travel
led nowadays owing to the insecurity produced on its
northern stages by the recalcitrant Zataniq tribesmen.
Comparatively few details are available about it. It
traverses or skirts the Tihamah plain throughout, and
lies accross barren desert nearly all the way. The actual
track is not infrequently lost to view on account of shifting
sand-drifts, and wide detours have sometimes to be made
in consequence. Some parts are exceedingly heavy going.
There is, in general, a sufficient supply of water from
wells, but it is neither plentiful nor good. Fodder is scarce,
and other supplies, except at Beit el-Faqih and Zebid,
are practically nil.
Route No. 4 (Sheikh Sa'id to Mokhah) is suited
only to mounted parties, preferably camel sowars, or to
convoys, on account of the distance between some of the
wells/ It is mostly heavy going over sandy desert, but
offers no special difficulties to laden camels.