32" THE CAMEL. 



ference. The camelns dromas was, as the ety- 

 mology of the name indicates, what the proper 

 dromedary is now, that is, simply a running, or 

 swift camel, used chiefly or altogether for the 

 saddle ; and he might be, as he may be still, of 

 either species, Bactrian or Arabian, though the 

 term dromedary is seldom merited by or applied 

 to the former of these races. In fact, any light- 

 built, easy-paced, and swift-footed camel, of 

 whatever species or variety, is a dromedary; 

 though there are certain breeds, in which the 

 slender head, tall, short body, small hump, clean 

 limbs, and generally livelier color, which char- 

 acterize the stock, have become hereditary, just 

 as similar peculiarities of form are perpetuated 

 in the thorough-bred hunter and race-horse.^ In 



proper Egyptians before the time of the Ptolemies, nor does 

 he appear to have been known upon the Barbary coast until 

 a mucli later period. See Ritter's essay, Ueher die geogra- 

 phisclie Verhreltung des Kameels, Erdkunde xiii. 



1 " Some writer, Robinson I think, declares that he could 

 find no difference between the camel and the dromedary, 

 except In the price of their hire ; and this opinion is con- 

 firmed by the experience of many travellers, who, with the 

 best will in the world, have in vain essayed to coax, jerk, 

 kick, punch, thwack, and bang their beasts into an amble. 

 But after all, I believe it is quite certain that, among the 

 many breeds of the camel, there is one of lighter make, easier 

 gait, and swifter pace, which is a much less fatiguing and 

 more expeditious mrkh than the common animal. This Is 

 the dromedary ; and in sum, any light-built, easy-paced, swift- 



