Page 162 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 4,5

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the gands or perhaps filters its way through to the Wadi Hadhra-
maut. Speaking of this river, Halevy in 1870 describes it as
a ‘ considerable water-course and though he saw it ‘ in full summer
and during a particularly dry season he reports it as being ‘ full ;
of good-sized fish ’. Jauf contains, according to Halevy’s experience,
more ancient ruins than any other district of Arabia. Among these
the most important from a historical point of view are those which
bear to-day the names of Ma‘In and Mareb. The former undoubtedly
represents the capital of the Minaeans.
Upper Jauf, with the neighbouring oases of Khab and Marashi,
is peopled mainly by the powerful tribe of Dhu Husein, whose very
numerous villages, of which the chief is Zdher (where an important
fair is held), are scattered over the various oases. Their lands are
described as ‘ cultivated with extreme care in spite of the complete
lack of running water ’, especially in the Khab Oasis. Middle and
Lower Jauf are peopled by the Beled Hamdan, whose chief settled
towns are Ghail and Hazm, each of which is said to be ‘ situated
in an oasis of palms and running waters Mareb, situated about
30 miles due S. of Lower Jauf and 55 miles ENE. of San‘a, was
described by Niebuhr (1762) as ‘ still, actually, the principal town
of Jauf, and consisting of 300 poor houses ’. It was the Sabaean
capital, and, according to Halevy, is in ruins with the exception of
that part, situated on a hill, which forms the modem town and is
surrounded by a solid stone wall. The ruins extend around a hill,
along Wadi Shibwan, and cover an area of about 500 metres in
diameter ; among them stand out a number of marble columns
without capitals. The site of the famous dam is from 2 to 3 hours’
journey to the west, at the entrance of a valley which forms the bed
of Wadi Shibwan. The part still existing shows the remains of
a dyke, of very solid construction, with several sluices. A little to
the south-west are to be seen the ruins of a large building of hewn
stone, admirably constructed, against a gigantic rock. The ceme­
tery of ancient Mareb lies on both sides of the road leading from
the modern town to the dam. The intervening country between
Jauf and Mareb is an arid region of deep, moving sand-dunes ;
and the approach from San'a is by way of Wadis Sirr, Sharafah,
and Shibwan. The Khaulan country, which lies south of these
wadis, is described by Halevy as ‘ one of the best-cultivated
tracts of Arabia, having numerous villages at short intervals,
abundant cereals and fruits, but inhabited by a savagely fanatical
people’.
The feudal system appears to obtain in Jauf, the three principal
classes being the sherifs, the nobles or lords, and the qaraun or