'Handbook of Yemen' [‎60v] (125/190)

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Water is plentiful, but mostly brackish and only fit
for animals. There is good water from springs at one or
two places. Forage is scanty along the route, but there
is sufficient grazing for camels as a rule.
Two-thirds of Route No. 5, from Mokhah to Ta'iz, lie
across the flat and sterile Tihamah plain ; the remainder
is a difficult ascent to Ta c iz but practicable for transport
and animals. The road crosses and recrosses the Mokhah-
Ta'iz telegraph line all the way and, at Ta'iz, it joins the
longitudinal route along the axis of the highlands which
is described under Route No. 10.
Water is sufficient at all seasons. After rain it is abundant
beyond the first stage, but even then the mountain torrents
become lost in the Tihamah, and but little water reaches
the coast. Fodder is very limited on the first stage, but
plentiful thereafter. Small quantities of foodstuffs (cereals
and vegetables, cattle, sheep, and goats, milk and eggs >
and some poultry) are obtainable when the mountains
are reached.
Route No. 6, from Hodeidah to San'a, is by far the
most important, in the present political state of Yemen.
It is the only made road of any considerable length in
Arabia. It divides itself roughly into a desert and a
mountain section, the former, across the Tihamah, being
often very heavy going, and the latter made up of difficult
and trying ascents and descents. In 1913, the state of
the road was reported to be "bad on the mountain stages"
and indifferent everywhere," but the revetments and
culverts were generally in good order. In 1915 it was
said to be very bad as far as Menakhah, but fair going
eyond. The Turks have often marched large forces and
ransported guns (including heavy howitzers) over this road,
e.g. m 1.311. It can be used for ordinary wheeled traffic
on \ on the last stage between Bo'an and San'a, where
even mo ors could pass. The mails are usually carried
sta es U 68 with office at most of the principal