SANA is the capital town of the province of Yemen in Arabia, situated in 15' 5' N. lat., 44' 5' E. long. Sans, though the chief town of Yemen, is the seat of an independent chief, the Imam of Sane, who exercises authority over a wide district around, and is often opposed to the Egyptian government, which has advanced its frontiers to Beit-el-Fatib, a town in the Jchameh, about midway between Saua and the port of Mokha, on the Red Sea. Sena is pleasantly situated on an elevated table-land, surrounded on three sides by higher moun tains. The valley thus formed is about nine miles broad, but extending uninterruptedly to the north. The country round about supplies a considerable quantity of coffee, which at preseut is transmitted to Mokha on camels ; but the exaction; of the Egyptian government are so great, that it has been considered likely that the traffic may be turned to Aden, to which port Sans is as near as to 3Iokha. Coffee forms almost the only export ; the_ imports are piece-goods, thread, and twiat, Persian tobacco, glass, silks, spices, and sugar. The towu is walled and indifferently fortified. It is about 54 miles in circum
ference, with narrow streets, but with many good houses; them of the more opulent having windows of stained-glass. The imain has two handsome palaces, both built of hewn-stone and fortified, in the town, and there are about twenty mosques, some very handsome, and many baths and publio fountains. Across the principal street a handsome bridge has been thrown, as in rainy seasons a torrent runs down the street, but oocasiottally the town is seven years without rain, and is much too dry in general to be healthy. The population is estimated at 40,000; and of three neighbouring towns In the same valley, Rodeh, Wady-Dhar, and Jeraf, the population is at least 30,000 more. In Sans, and probably In the other towns, the principal part of the artisans are Jews, who pay a capitation-tax for permission to reside In the town : they live in a quarter by themselves, and their number is about 3000. (Geog. Journal, vol. viii.; Journey of Mr. J. C. Cron leaden to Sana, 1836.)