In The High Yemen

First Published in 2002. Scott gives a fascinating account of an expedition that took place in 1937 to the Yemen when the country was closed to Europeans by order of the Imam. Ostensibly a scientific expedition, it possesses great political, cultural, and anthropological interest. The tense negotiations which preceded the expedition and the ultimate success assured that this work remains perhaps the most important account ever written of that forbidding land that occupies the southern half of the Arabian shore.

PART I. INTRODUCTORY I. Outline of the journey: difficulty of entering the Yemen II. Our scientific quest III. What we sought, and how our collections were made IV. Previous exploration of the Yemen by naturalists PART II. THE JOURNEY V. Aden and Lahej VI. Gateway to the highlands: Aden to Dhala VII. Dhala, capital of the Amiri highlands VIII. Lifo on Jebel Jihaf IX, Recesses and heights of Jebel Jihaf X. The upper Wadi· Tiban and Jebel Harir. XI. The hot springs of Huweimi. Entry to the Yemen XII. Ta'izz, chief city of the Southern Yemen, and its Amir XIII. Through the central highlands to San'a XIV. Many-towered San'a XV. Treks in San'a district: our farthest north XVI. The Great Festival: we meet the Imam at last XVII. Last days in San'a and exit via Hodeida PART III. HISTORICAL-AND THE FUTURE The peoples of South- West Arabia, and beginnings of their History, History before the coming of Islam, Remains oj the pre-Islamic civilisation, Since the coming of Islam, Products and possibilities