'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎619] (714/905)

CHAP. XXIII.]
KHAULAN.
619
same direction, the district of Rodda, which extends to that Town of Dama.
of Jaffea. From Abb the road inclines north-westward along
the slopes of the mountains to the town of Mechader, which
is on a hill, and the seat of a dola; and from hence it
leads to Yerim, a moderate sized Makhlaf, with a town of the
same name, situated on the northern slope of Jebel Sumara, a
higher mountain than Mharres. 1 Some miles onward, in the
previous direction, is Damar, or Demar, a small town, thinly
peopled, once the seat of the Himyarites. The town and its
castle are most agreeably situated on a mount; the former is
well watered and abundantly supplied. It is under the super
intendence of a dola, and has a famous school, in addition to
5000 well-built houses. 2
On the mountain north of the town are the mosque and Maad-be-jebei.
gardens of Maad-be-Jebel, where the learned men assemble;
and one day from thence are the ruins of an extensive build
ing, with 66 columns below, and 64 columns above (probably
part of an aqueduct), called the throne of Balkis. 3 To the
N.E. is the mountain of Hirran, which is celebrated for
its cornelians, and another, which contains a mine of native
sulphur.
At Damar the road takes a northern direction, by Mau-ak- District of
keb to Surredge, on the border of Khaulan. This is a district Khaulan -
of moderate size, rather mountainous, and containing many
villages under a sheikh, who is independent of the Imam of
San a, and can bring into the field 2000 musketeers. 4 In
addition to Beit Rodsje, the capital, and Beit-el-Kibsi, which
is inhabited solely by sherifs, one of whom heads the annual
Mekkah caravan; it contains the small city of Tanaeim,
anciently the chief seat of the Arabian Jews, and then con
taining many spacious synagogues. 5
On the slopes of the mountains, a little way westward of
Khaulan, are Abid, a small town situated on the river Rema,
in the coffee country, and Dhoran, an ancient town on
1 NieTabuhr's Travels in Arabia, vol. I., p. 352. 8 Ibid., p. 363.
s Arabic MS. in the British Museum, translated by Dr. A. Sprenger.
4 Arabic MS. translated by Dr. Aloys Sprenger.
* Niehbuhr's Travels in Arabia, vol. II., p. 63; Heron's translation.
4 K 2