InlroduBlon of the Camel al the Cape, 331 



he found himfclf tinder the ncccflky of rewating his aduio- 

 nition to the rpectators not to give the elephants any thing; 

 but no fooner had he done fo than the female laid hold of 

 his niufket, twirled it round in her trunk, trod it under her 

 feet, and did not redore it until flie had twilled it into the 

 form of a fcrew," 



INTRODUCTION OF THE CAMEL AT THE CaPE CF 



Good Hope. 

 Notwithfianding the great number of travellers -who have 

 attempted to penetrate into the interior part of Africa by the 

 way of the Cape of Good Hope, the diftrids left imexplored 

 are immenfe when, compared to thofe which have been vi- 

 fitcd. One of the greateft obftacles to travelling in thcfc 

 wild and parched regions, is the want of proper beads of 

 burthen ; for it is well known that cattle cannot lone: endure 

 thirft, and that numbers of them employed on that feryice 

 by travellers have died by the way, and thereby renderci 

 their attempts to proceed farther ufelefs. This fa6l muft be 

 well known to thofe who have read Vaillant's Travels. I'ro- 

 feffor Ileeren of Gottingen propofcs therefore, in order to 

 remove this difficulty, the introduction of the camel at the 

 Cape of Good Hope. *' There can be no doubt," fays h% 

 *' that this animal would thrive there, as the climate is ex- 

 aftly the fame as that of the countries where it is now found. 

 It would no doubt fucceed as well in the latitude of 35" S. 

 as the lat. of 35' N. in Syria. The exploring of the interior 

 parts of Africa is not the only advantage which miaht be 

 derived from the introduftion of the camel at the Cape: 

 of what utility w^ould fuch a beaft of burden be to the plan- 

 ters, many of whom live at a great diftancc from the Cape 

 town, and can at prcfent fend tlicir productions thither in 

 BO other iiianner than in waggons drawn by four oxen 1 

 The principal point, however, would be the opening a com- 

 xnercial intercourfe with the interior part of the country. It 

 •onnot be doubted that the fouthcrn extremity of Africa is 



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