MILITARY USES OF THE CAMEL. 189 



The habits of these Indians much resemble 

 those of the nomade Arabs, and the introduc- 

 tion of the camel among them would modify 

 their modes of life as much as the use of the 

 horse has done. For a time, indeed, the pos- 

 session of this animal would only increase their 

 powers of mischief; but it might, in the long 

 run, prove the means of raising them to that 

 state of semi-civilized life, of which alone their 

 native wastes seem susceptible. The products 

 of the camel, milk, wool, skin, and flesh, would 

 prove of inestimable value to these tribes, which 

 otherwise are likely soon to perish with the 

 buffalo and other large game animals ; and the 

 profit of ti-ansportation across our inland desert, 

 might have the same effect in reclaiming these 

 barbarians, which it has had upon the Ai'abs of 

 the Sinaitic peninsula. 



Among the advantages of the camel for mili- 

 tary purposes, may be mentioned the economy 

 of his original cost, as compared with the horse 

 or mule, when once introduced and fairly do- 

 mesticated ; 1 the simplicity and cheapness of 

 his saddle and other furniture, which every 



1 The price of tlie camel is exceedingly low in all countries 

 where he is bred. Except for the highest breed, maharis, 

 it nowhere, except in the Crimea, exceeds fifty dollars, and 

 is in general considerably below this sum. The reason of 

 this is that it costs nothing to breed the animal. The dam 

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