Page 166 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 4,5

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178 YEMEN

for the well-being of its present inhabitants, as well as for its peculiar
heterodoxy. The chief modem settlement appears to be Makhldf
(or Mikhlaf), ‘ situated in the midst of a forest of date-trees ’, at a point
where the wadi is about 300 metres wide. The principal ancient
site is Najara, the probable ruins of Negrana (known by the Arabs
as El-Khudud or El-Ukhud), lying somewhat to the ESE., in a fertile
plain not far from a modem mosque. The other settlements, dotted
in close proximity about the oasis, are very numerous. As in Jauf
there are many Jewish colonies, and, according to Halevy, nowhere
in Arabia are the Jews held in higher esteem, or do they enjoy more
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