32 PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 



answered, No ! that lie would have preferred the camel, as, packing his 

 haggage upon them in light loads, he could move more quickly and 

 continuously. 



In relation to our visiting Persia, the inquiries we have made lead 

 us to the conclusion that, though we might readily get there, our 

 return, owing to the blocking up of the roads by snow, would be im- 

 possible until next spring. As this would detain us much beyond 

 the time fixed for our return to the United IStates, and unnecessarily 

 delay the experiment we are engaged in, we have reluctantly aban- 

 doned the journey, though we desired much to seethe varieties of the 

 Persian camel, and particularly the zembourek or dromedary artillery. 

 A journey into Persia, with the intention of returning immediately, 

 must be commenced, we find, about May. Our course from this will be, 

 I think, to Syria or Egypt for dromedaries, and then back to Smyrna for 

 burden camels, in the expectation of commencing our return home 

 some time in February. 



The inquiries in relation to dromedaries for the French army, re- 

 ported in my letter of the 11th of October, produced no result. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



HENPtY C. WAYNE, 

 Major United States Army. 



Hon. Jefperson Davis, 



Secretary of War, Washington city. 



United States Ship ''Supply," 



Alexandi'ia, December 12, 1855. 



Sir : As Major Wayne has so frequently kept you informed of our 

 movements, I have not deemed it necessary to trouble you with my 

 communications. Major Wayne has not, I believe, written to you 

 from this place, and I take advantage of the sailing of the English 

 mail steamer to advise you of what we are about. 



Since my last letter we have gone over a good deal of ground where 

 camels are to be found in their best condition, and ample opportunities 

 have been afforded Major Wayne to make his report complete in rela- 

 tion to the future importation of the animals into our country. 



As to the treatment of camels and their peculiar habits, I believe 

 we will be as perfectly acquainted with them as it is possible to be. 



The camels we took on board at Tunis underwent a long and fair 

 trial ; one of them (the only good one) has now been on board '' one 

 hundred and twenty days," is in much better order than the day I 

 took him in charge, has never been sick for one moment, nor received 

 a hurt of any kind, although we have been at times exposed to very 

 rough weather. The only food I have allowed him to have has been 

 eight pounds of hay a day, and he grows too large on that. 



The experiments I have made with those I have had on board en- 

 courage me greatly to hope that I shall have little or no trouble with 

 a number ; the only difificulty I see at all in importing camels into the 



