Page 202 - Arabian Studies (V)

190 Arabian Studies V

Markets in the San 'a ’ region
Name Day Tribe Position1 Type
Mas‘ud Sanhan
San‘a* San‘a' 3
al-Rawdah Sunday B. al-Harith 417706 3
al-Jahiliyyah
(Suq al-Jum‘ah) Friday Hamdan 414718 1
al-Khamis Thursday B. al-Harith 419717 1
i al-lthnayn Monday Arhab 417713 (?)
al-Riqqah
(Suq al-Thuluth) Tuesday Hamdan 406717 2 (?)
al-Qabil B. al-Harith 407708 3
Bayt Na‘m Wednesday Hamdan 402705 2
Sahab Monday ‘Iyal Surayh 394725 1
Bab al-Ahjir Wednesday 381711 2 (?)
Shibam Thursday
and Friday 383715 3
Hababah 379719 3
Thula Tuesday 382723 3
‘Amran Saturday 387732 3
Raydah ‘Iyal Surayh
Hashid 397749 3
al-Sararah Thursday ‘Iyal Yazld 379746 2
al-Sawd Friday ‘Iyal Yazld 373745 (?) 3
al-Sudah Sunday 363765 3
Detail has been omitted when uncertain or unspecific.

Distribution of markets in Yemen seems to be affected by several factors.
Almost invariably in the northern part of Yemen it is possible to reach a
market and return home on the same day or the following day. Conse­
quently as roads improve it seems that some markets disappear or decline in
importance. An informant told me of a specific instance of this, recounting
that the tribe of Sanhan had a Saturday market which was discontinued
after it was bombed on a market day in the course of the Yemeni war.
Improving road communications meant that it was not necessary to re­
establish the market. Tribal boundaries also affect the concentration of
markets. Almost all tribes have markets and these are frequently on the
tribal borders, probably to facilitate trade. I was told of one market that it
had the status of hijrah,2 but this was subsequently modified by another
informant who said that markets did not have hijrah status but constituted
a form of neutral territory where people from all surrounding areas might
come to purchase their requirements. This might account for the fact that
markets which are geographically close but belong to different tribes rarely
compete for market days.