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In the Medieval areas, towering mud-brick houses with white plaster highlights are oddly reminiscent of the spectacular gingerbread city. While in the

 

Labyrinth³ souks, Yemenis haggle⁴ for spice, jewelry⁵ and other goods just as they have for centuries.

 

A walk through these narrow passageways quickly reveals one striking piece of merchandise, an accessory the Yemeni gentleman can't be without--the Jambiya. These ornate burly knives are worn prominently, tucked into thick embroidered⁶ belts. And while they may seem fearsome to western sensibilities, the Jambiya is almost never used as a weapon, instead it serves as a sign of Yemeni manhood.

 

In the cramped⁷ quarters of the souk, blacksmiths intendedly work metal into the unmistakable hook-shaped blades. Rows of gleaming daggers⁸ are proudly displayed in market stalls. Their prices range from a few dollars to a staggering one million dollars for a Jambiya with impeccable craftsmanship⁹ and illustrious history, but the prestige of these items can come at a high price other than money.

 

The worth of these daggers is often defined by the handle, traditionally made from rhinoceros¹¹ horn, price for the unique patina¹² it exhibits. Jambiyas have often been cited as a major underlying¹³ cause for rhino¹⁰ poaching. Despite bans by the Yemeni government and international community on the trade of horns, they continue to be used by some knife makers¹⁴. Conservationists and government officials have tried to stamp out the use by encouraging alternative materials, like water buffalo¹⁵ horn or camel hoofs¹⁶, but in this country where change creeps slowly and tradition remains¹⁷ strong, a rhino horn Jambiya may be a steady symbol for some time to come.

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