PUECHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 25 



Malta, August 13, 1855. 



Sir : We are about leaving Malta, in the prosecution of our duties, and 

 though, as yet, nothing of importance has been done, it may be agree- 

 able to you to know something of our movements. 



We arrived in Spezzia on the 12th of July, being somewhat in ad- 

 vance of the time I allowed to get out there. On my arrival I received 

 a letter from Major Wayne, informing me that he would join the ship 

 in six days. I deemed it advisable to spend that time in taking a 

 look at the camels in Florence and Pisa, and started on the day we 

 received pratique on that duty. When I arrived at Florence I found 

 that the greater part of the carciels, amounting to two hundred and 

 fifty, had been sent to the grand duke's farm, about eight miles from 

 Pisa, and I proceeded to that place. 



I cannot say that I derived any important information from my 

 visit, though I witnessed a practical illustration of the adaptation of 

 the camel to a climate more variable than the one to which we are 

 going to transport them. 



The camel has been used in Tuscany for over two hundred years, 

 and has increased and multiplied from a few that were brought from 

 the upper part of Egypt. If the number is limited, it is not because 

 the animals do not breed as freely as in Egypt, but because the de- 

 mand for them is limited, the grand duke only requiring a certain 

 number for his own use, and not permitting the animal to be used 

 outside of his own grounds, the number he has on hand being suffi- 

 cient to do the work of one thousand horses. 



I found, upon examination, that the camels at Pisa were very much 

 overworked and badly cared for, being supplied with no food what- 

 ever, beyond what they could glean from among the pine barrens, 

 and not being housed in winter, in a high latitude, (43° 30',) where 

 they experience severe cold, and a much more trying climate than 

 that of Texas. They are forced to carry seventeen hundred pounds, 

 Tuscan weight, equal to twelve hundred English, and work from sun- 

 rise to sunset. With all this they look in good condition, have not 

 deteriorated in regard to size, and Would with ordinary care be much 

 better kept than the camels of the east. Under the circumstances, it 

 is a marvel to me how the Tuscans have succeeded in raising the 

 camel at all. The intelligence of our countrymen and their keen per- 

 ception of their own interest will, I am convinced, bring the breeding 

 of camels to a high state of perfection . 



On my return to Spezzia I found that Major Wayne had arrived a 

 few hours before me, and we sailed next day for Naples, for the pur- 

 pose of procuring money ; but we found the rate of exchange so high 

 that we gave up the idea of getting any in that quarter. 



Tunis being in our route, we stopped there with the intention of 

 taking on board a camel to keep during the cruise, for the purpose of 

 ascertaining the manner of managing them at sea, and the amount 

 of time they will endure confinement on shipboard, in reference to 

 future shipments. We accordingly purchased an ordinary animal, 

 which we regretted afterwards, as the Bey of Tunis presented Major 

 Wayne with two good specimens ; one, indeed, is a remarkably fine 



