50 - Dec 11th thru Dec 17th 2000, Vol
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Glimpse of Utma District
Although there is no reference in history reference works or antiquities
relating to the first settlement of the ancient Yemenis in Utma, yet it
is certain that Utma occupied a place in the demographic, economic, political
and military fabric of the ancient Yemeni states and kingdoms. This can
be traced back to the ancient Maien state and upto the Himyarite state,
which was the foundation for the establishment of Arab-Islamic state in
the early seventh century.
We could say that the fertility of the soil, the high productivity
of agricultural crops, the presence of grazing grounds, dense forests,
the excellent rates of rainfall, the presence of many springs and rivulets,
the climatic diversity from cold, moderate and equatorial, resulted in
that diversity of crops suited to the life of many animals. This advantage
induced man to settle there and consequently exploit these bounties to
provide himself with the requirements of daily life.
This is underlined by the settlers’ undertaking the construction of
the first huge mountainous farming terraces and undertaking farming and
animal and birds’ husbandry.
Early man also utilized his mental capabilities to build citadels and
fortresses, dams and weirs for exploiting rain water for sustained agriculture
and thus provide food, clothing and bedding, and export the surplus through
barter with other regions and thus ensure the other multiple needs of human
life.
Location
Utma district lies within the natural extension of the As-Sarah range
of mountains that begin in Aden and end at southern peripheries of the
Fertile Crescent and the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula. These
are mountainous plateaus in the internal central highlands.
Utma district is made up of high mountains over which straddle the
terraces and grazing grounds. It has forests, many internal valleys, flood
courses and is the crucible in which gathers the rain water coming down
from the high slopes.
It constitutes a primary tributary of Wadi Rama’ from the north, the
north east and west and Wadi Zabeed from the west and south west.
The lowest point in Utma region is 820 m. above sea level. While the
highest point is about 2,600 - 2,800m above seal level, especially Samah
Citadel and the neighboring peaks, and Bani Asad fort in the western part
of the district. Utma lies between the longitudes 44.50 degrees and 43.50
degrees and the latitudes 14.20 degrees and 14.35 degrees.
Among them are many perennial trees with medical properties. This has
produced an environmental and biological balance that is rarely found in
the regions of the Republic. This makes it imperative that scientists prepare
projects covering all plants of the district, for nothing except their
economic importance.
We should not also forget the fact that the presence of a verdant and
extensive cover has made the district’s population bound to the raising
of many types of animals and birds. This has also resulted in an environmental
balance and the provision of new sources of income for the residents of
the district.
Natural beauty
Utma is distinguished by its verdant plains and mountains and the
diversity of its climate. It also differs from other Yemeni regions owing
to the presence of perennial, medicinal and odorous trees which are listed
below:
Civilization landmarks
We have presented a very brief glimpse of Utma districts history. We
should also mention part of its distinctive landmarks, the most important
of which are the numerous historic citadels and fortresses scattered throughout
the district. Each landmark, of course, has its colorful history filled
with successive events for centuries.
Here there is no scope to go into the details of such a history and
we will have to be content with mentioning some of the more important landmarks,
such as Harder fort, Mukhamm fort, Bani Suwaid fort, Al-haddadi fort, A;-muqanza’,
Al-Dahimi fort...etc.
The district is bounded from the east by Anes district and from the
south by Rihab Al-qafr district and from the north by Anes area and Al-Salafyya
district and from the west by Kasma and Wassab Al-Ali districts.
District divisions
Utma district comprises five ‘makhaleef’ - a Himyarite nomenclature
naturally - (centers) as follows:
- As-Sahl mikhlaf (center)
- Razk mikhlaf (center)
- Bani Bahr mikhlaf (center)
- Central Himyar mikhlaf (center)
- Samah mikhlaf (center)
These makhaleef (center) encompass 57 quasi-towns and 534 villages made
up of 20,469 dwellings houses and 20,249 persons. The district’s population
represents 6% of the overall population of the Dhamar Governorate according
to the 1994 population census.
Agricultural Crops
As mentioned earlier Utma district is distinguished for being a part
of the mountainous plateaus giving it a climatic and environmental diversity
and resulting in a multiplicity of agricultural crops, which vary between
the colder and moderate regions and the equatorial and semi-equatorial
ones.
Utma district is considered to be a principal producer of various cereals,
especially fine sorghum of 12 types which is exported to many regions of
the Republic, especially the central and eastern ones. Furthermore, the
mountainous farming terraces and the district’s wadis produce white and
yellow maize, millet, wheat barley and various types of tubulars. The region
is also unique in the production of all types of vegetables and fruit,
such as orange, lemon, mango, papaya, mandarin, plums, guava, various types
of tamarind and apricots. It also produces ordinary and circular coffee
which is to be found in every one of the district’s wadis.
We should not forget to mention that Utma district possesses an extensive
cover of grazing lands, shrubs and forests which store numerous types of
plants.
Discovery
of Abu al-Abbas
as-Saffah’s Dagger in Taiz
A dagger belonging to the founder of the Abbasid Dynasty, Caliph Abu
al- Abbas as-Saffah, has been lately found in the city of Taiz. The Caliph’s
name is Al-Abbas Bin Ibrahim Bin Mohammed Bin Ali Bin Abdullah Bin Al-Abbas.
When Abu al- Abbas assumed the caliphate in 749, and during his reign,
he began a campaign of extermination against the Umayyads and other claimants
to power. He named himself as-Saffah “the blood-shedder’’ because of his
savage attacks. He established a firm legal and dynastic base for the Abbasids.
He died in al-Anbar. His successor moved the caliphate to Baghdad.
Director General of Taiz Antiquities Office Al-Izzi Musleh told Yemen
Times that the dagger was found by chance when a citizen was trying to
sell it. The citizen said that he inherited it from his grandfather. Mr.
Musleh added that the dagger might have been brought from Iraq to Yemen
as a piece of booties during past wars.
 In his description of the dagger, he said that it was made of yellowish
copper and down the hilt of the dagger written a phrase is wither reading
“God’s Hand helps Caliph Abul-Abbas.” There was also the phrase “In The
Name Of God” that was written in the shape of a gazelle head. Such inscriptions
appeared in the Mesopotamia. There are also Arabesque decorations in circles
and a branch on sheath. Written on the hilt is “Oh, God the Al-Mighty”
on sheath “Oh God, the Opener of the gates of profit” and “The Most Exalted.”
On sheath are drawn: river fish, triangles, patterns and other writing
that is not deciphered yet. It may indicate to maker of the dagger. He
added that this finding was a significant old Islamic antiquity.
Dr. Mutahar Al-Iryani said the dagger belonged to King Al-Afdhal Al-Rasouli
Abbas, son of King Al-Mujahed Bin Ali Bin Al-Mua’yad Daud, son of King
Al-Mudhaffar Yousof, a Rasouli king and a scholar who had many books on
History and agriculture. He added that Caliph Al-Abbas’s name is Abi Al-Abbas,
The ‘’blood-shedder ‘’ and the dagger belonged to the Rasouli King Al-Abbas.
Mr. Al-Izzi Musleh thinks that the dagger belonged to the Caliph Abbas
because what was written on it is “God’s Hand Supports the Caliph” and
there were no caliphs except the Abbasids.
Recipes
for Ramadhan
Prepared by Faydah AbdulRahman Shaif
Yemeni Sayadiya
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 kilo any kind of fish, cut into pieces.
1 medium onion, sliced and fried.
1/2 cup of vegetable oil.
1/2 cup chopped green pepper if desired.
1/2 table spoon red chili powder.
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin.
1 clove of garlic finely chopped
4 tablespoons tomato sauce
3 cups of cooked rice
3 pieces of cooked potatoes and fried.
1/2 teaspoon salt.
Method
1)Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium fire. cook fish in
oil about 10 minutes or until brown on all sides, remove fish from skillet
2)Cook potatoes until they are brown on all sides then remove
from skillet.
3)Cook onion and garlic in oil in skillet over medium fire about
3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are crisp-tender, drain
oil from skillet.
4)Add salt, green pepper, chili powder, ground cumin and tomato
sauce into onion mixture in skillet, .Return the fish and the potatoes
to skillet. heat until boiling by adding one cup of water, on low fire,
cover and leave to simmer for 10 minutes.
5Add the rice to the fish mixture in skillet, leave on low fire for
10 minutes then pour in a plate and keeping the fish and potatoes on top
of the rice.
Caramel Crisp
INGREDIENTS:
Crust: :(About 9” round pan in dia)
2 cups cookies, crushed
1/3 cup stick margarine or butter, melted
Caramel Filling:
2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup cream caramel powder
Frosting:
1&1/2 cup whipping cream
caramel syrup.
Method
1)Mix the crushed cookies and the method butter and press evenly
in bottom of round pan. Refrigerate.
2)Meanwhile, beat powdered cream caramel, sugar, vanilla and
milk and cool over medium heat stirring constantly, until mixture thickens
and boils.
3)Boil and stir 2 minutes, pour on the crust we made before
4)Put the pan in the refrigerator for one hour and then pour
the whipping cream on top and decorate with caramel syrup oil desired.
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