"كُتيّب اليمن" [ظ‎‎٢‎٤] (١٩٠/٥٣)

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(2) Weaving. —There is a colony of weavers at Hodeidah>
many of whom have come from the disturbed area just
mentioned. They weave a coarse cotton cloth with stripes
of colour, and this is retailed in lengths suitable for shawls,
etc., as worn by the natives. Ta'iz was once famous for
weaving.
(3) Tanning. —Hides are dressed and made into sandals-
at Hodeidah, Zebid, Beit el-Faqih, and some other centres.
Shedpskins are also soft-tanned in some of the larger up-
country centres, chiefly for making into boots, which are
there worn more often than sandals, because of the cold.
(4) Grinding. —There is a small flour-mill at Menakhah,
built by the Turks. Elsewhere grinding is done entirely
by the hand-quern.
(5) Metal-working. —San'a was once famous for its
ornamental work in brass and copper; but the industry
is now confined to the making of domestic utensils.
(6) Production of i¥merak—There is a small amount
of coarse brittle native iron, but the scarcity of fuel makes
smelting impracticable. Petroleum has long been known
to exist in the i arsan Islands, and a concession was granted
to an Ottoman subject; but the results of the experimental
borings proved of doubtful value. Rock-salt occurs at
i on the mainland opposite the Kamaran Islands
and the flourishing salt-works there are under the control
of the Ottoman Public Debt; the bulk of the salt coes to
India, but large quantities are also sent inland Fine
stones of onyx, agate chalcedony, and cornelian, are found
m the hills round San a.