78 THE CAMEL. 



to the shops of London or Paris. ' Among the 

 wares brought from Bokhara,' (I quote from 

 Erman, Reisen i. 198,) ' are the shawls manu- 

 factured there. The Russians affirm, that these 

 precious fabrics are woven from the downy hair 

 of the belly of the dromedary. By means of 

 fine combs, the soft wool is collected from time 

 to time, and spun into yarn as fine as a human 

 hair. These shawls are composed of two strips 

 about eight inches in width, sewed together, and 

 ornamented with figured borders made from the 

 fibrous bark of a plant described by the Rus- 

 sians as a nettle. A white shawl with orna- 

 mented borders is often sold for twelve thousand 

 rubles." 



The utility of the camel does not cease with 

 his life. His flesh, especially the hump and 

 heart, is a favorite food among all camel-drivers, 

 though most European travellers have found it 

 tough and unsavory. Travellers generally ac- 

 company caravans, and seldom reside long 

 among the more stationary tribes in their ha- 

 bitual localities. Upon a march, a camel cannot 

 be slaughtered without transferring his rider or 

 his burden to other beasts, already perhaps over- 

 loaded, and he is therefore seldom killed until he 

 falls, or is ready to die, with exhaustion. In this 

 case he is immediately butchered, the Bismil- 

 lah (in the name of God!) being first pro- 



