Page 490 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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1 248 S0UTH-WESTKRN ROUTES
■!
I
miles.
total, stages]
%
Dir. NE., by long ascent out of gorge, and then
descent.
1
8 m. Mefhaq, village 1. of road; important fortress
(alt. 5,700 ft.) on mound to r., commanding
J] road ; 2 wells below village.
Dir. NNE., in ever-increasing gradients round craggy
v!
*V: spurs ; very rough surface in most parts. At
X about 6 m. road circles rock pinnacle, 150 ft. high,
i
with observation-post on crest. Ascent becomes
steeper still and involves a strenuous climb on
4
to ridge between two deep valleys; along this,
4\
ascent somewhat easier into Suq el-Khamis. Two'
] miles before village, a small hamlet and mosque
are passed.
135 34 Suq el-Khamis, walled village of stone houses ; garrisoned,
I and forming a strong strategic point; pop.
*
about 300 ; alt. 7,760 ft. (Bury gives 7,200 ft.).
' Military hospital, adjoining stores and quarters
« for company of soldiers ; water excellent from
.* wells.
|
Dir. NNE., still ascending in a succession of zigzags,
up main scarp of Jebel Minar.
I 2 m. Turkish post and tower to 1.

7 m. Salami Pass, highest point of Hodeidah-
t
San‘a road ; alt. 9,400 ft.
Minar Caracol, a stronghold perched on Jebel
I Minar and commanding the pass ; Beit es-Salarm,
1 an Arab tower, overlooks it from a heighten .
j!
a Road, still winding, now drops to Bo an wi
i; bad surface throughout.
148 13 Bo‘an (Bau‘an), small village with market ; alt. 8,900 ft. |
*»: the whole,
Road from this point into San‘a is good on
small
and motors could pass ; here and there are
;i rough and rather steep descents, but becv
s:
m J these the ground is level. and
2im. White-domed watering-place for men
animals. . f , road.
2 m. Yazil. village to 1., a Uttle a ^ gorne little
2 m. Multiah. village to 1., on hign q{ s-na„i
distance off. To r.. ejeyat^ ugually held
(Thinam) Pasha (alt. 9.lb() ft)l

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