"كُتيّب اليمن" [و‎‎١‎٦] (١٩٠/٣٦)

of urban rank, Zeidiyah. The Quhrah, who own Bajil,
? Obal, and Hajjeilah, important settlements on the
Hodeidah-San'a road, are in similar case.
Following up the left bank slopes of the Mur basin without
turning up the valleys of its main tributaries, the Wadi La'a
and A\adi Dhubawa, we are soon in the Hashid country,
which, from the descriptions given of that federation, must
be less fertile than the right bank slopes, and only intermit
tently cultivated. Probably the down-like region spreads
westward here. On the Main Ridge here lie the Hashid
urban centres, Khamir, Huth, and Qafilat f Udhr.
(3) Khamir (Khamr), situated about ninety miles east
by north of Loheiah, is a large Hashid town at a high eleva
tion on the Main Ridge at the head of Wadi Dhibin, and is
exposed to an unusually bleak climate for Yemen. It is
surrounded by a ruined wall and is said to have a population
of 6,000, but very little is known about it, as it has never
been described by any European traveller, though one
(Glaser) has visited it. It is the present capital of the
Imam; but, after the establishment of the entente with the
Turk, it was garrisoned by Turkish troops. It has a busy
weekly market. Sheharah, the hill-fort of the Imam (also
at one time garrisoned by Turks), lies above Qafilat c Udhr,
about twenty miles north-west, in the wildest Hashid
country. These fighting tribes admit neither the Imam's
nor any other outside authority, except under constant
pressure. Sheharah is practically impregnable, being approa
ched by only one very steep and easily defended road.
(4) Huth is a walled town about fifteen miles north of
Khamir on the main road to Sa'dah. It is largely inhabited
by Seyyids and Ashrdf and is the rival of Sa'dah and San'a
in learning.
(5) Qafilat c Udhr is a walled town ruled from Huth,
and dominated by the castle of Sheharah, belonging to
the Imam, in which he spends a certain portion of each