CHAPTER XIV 



WOOL- AND FUR-BEARING ANIMALS 



We have now reached a very important section of our work, and 

 shall make the acquaintance of quite a number of interesting and 

 useful animals during the present expedition, among these being the 

 Camels, Bears, Foxes, Skunks, Chinchilla, Marmots, Seals, Beavers 

 and Otters. Although many of these animals are very valuable com- 

 mercially, on account of the wool or fur which they produce, it is 

 essential that first place should be assigned to the Camel, and it is 

 not intended to treat at any length of the animals included from the 

 standpoint of their commercial utility. 



BACTRIAN AND ARABIAN CAMELS.— If only on account of its 

 antiquity, the Camel is worthy of occupying a foremost position in 

 this section, for authentic records prove that this "Ship of the 

 Desert " was well known in Egypt over three thousand years ago. 

 It is usually most highly regarded because of its usefulness as a 

 beast of burden, traversing the desert regions and undergoing great 

 trials of endurance which no other animal could withstand. But it 

 is as well to recognize that it is not only on account of its use as a 

 beast of burden the Camel makes a strong appeal, for the Arabs 

 make a favourite dish with its milk by boiling it with a mixture of 

 rice and flour, and even when the milk is sour it is mixed with flour 

 and made into a kind of bread. The flesh, too, is of value, 

 resembling veal, the hump being especially looked upon as a real 

 delicacy. But this does not exhaust the usefulness of this animal, 

 for the Arabs make harness and shoes from its skin, and clothing 

 and tents from the hair with which its body is covered. 



It seems remarkable, in spite of the fact that the Camel has been 

 used for so long a time in the world's history, that it has never 

 become reconciled as a beast of burden, preserving very largely 

 its vicious temperament. 



Beyond this, the beast under review has played at times an 

 important part in history, for it is quoted in the book of Genesis 



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