ABSTRACT

Sanaa, or Sult&n ’Amir ibn Abd el-Wahh&b. The latter, about this period, was contesting the sovereignty o f Temen with the former, and had already succeeded in wresting from him a large portion o f the southern districts, including the sea-board. As Varthema does not men­ tion the term “ Im&m,” the ordinary designation o f the rulers at Sanaa, and which he must frequently have heard used, I apprehend that he misconstrued the title into the name of a country or people, and then Italianized it, distorting “ Im&m” into “ Amanni.” Or, it may be a contraction and corruption o f [Am tr el-Mu\amanin, (Lord o f the Faith­ ful,) another title common to all the Imams of Sanaa,.