iv The Exploration of the Aden hinterland and Abyan: 18th–20th centuries

Serjeant in a note cites al-Nisbat wa-’l-buldān on the importance of Khanfar as the former or capital of Abyan73. He adds: “I visited it over ten years ago [ca 1952-3] and saw the old fort there,

but the area had sadly declined until the Abyan Cotton Scheme commenced”. As to other late texts, there is nothing new to be gleaned from Khalīfa (d. ca 1068/1658), who

merely mentions as a place on the route from Aden to Makka74. However, he wrote far removed from the area and additional detailed information on the region is more likely to be gleaned from Yemeni MSS.