PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 33 



United States is the one of transportation, and I hope that the experi- 

 ence we will have gained will set that matter at re^t. 



I landed two of the camels at Constantinople, one that we bought 

 at Tunis to try experiments with, and one of those the "Bey" of 

 Tunis presented. The latter was rather an ordinary specimen, not 

 worth taking to the United States. I could not very well refuse to 

 take it, as it was presented ; but should not have been justified in 

 transporting it to the United States in lieu of a better camel ; it was 

 sick when it came on board, and had the itch ; but it was cured 

 perfectly, and improved in size, and stood a confinement in the 

 ship of one hundred days, without the least symptom of suffering. 

 While I was absent in the Crimea, the itch broke out on it slightly, 

 and as at that time I anticipated taking on board " four picked 

 camels," (a present from the sultan,) I thought it most prudent to 

 get him out of the ship, so as to run no risk in spreading the disease. 



The one we purchased, having no further use for, was also disposed 

 of to the best advantage. 



I regret to say I had to sail from Constantinople without taking 

 with me the four camels offered by the sultan. When I went to that 

 port, it was with the expectation of wintering there with the ship, 

 while Major Wayne pursued his journey into Persia ; it was not until 

 ten days before we left Constantinople that our destination was 

 changed ; circumstances rendering it impracticable to carry out your 

 instructions. After our return from the Crimea, the camels were 

 offered through our dragoman, Mr. Brown, who, not being aware we 

 intended leaving Constantinople, did not advise the Turkish govern- 

 ment that we were bound to other places. In the meantime the camels 

 had been sent for into Asia, where it was intended to procure the best 

 from one of the sultan's farms ; but as they were not brought over in 

 time, I had to sail without them. The Turkish government author- 

 ized Mr. Brown to get four of the best that could be procured, but as 

 there was no particular object in taking any that we were not sure of 

 being without disease, and Major Wayne not thinking favorably of 

 the proposition, I sailed without them. 



It would not be desirable to take on board any camels brought up 

 in or about a city, as they are almost always diseased, or crippled ; 

 therefore, I do not think we have lost anything by not taking the last 

 four camels that were ofiered. 



My wish was to do nothing that might make the Turkish govern- 

 ment suppose their courtesy unacceptable, as I believe they desired to 

 show their good will towards the government of the United States, 

 and would have added to our collection four of the finest camels in 

 Asia, had time and circumstances permitted. 



The. impracticability of going to Persia by the way of Erzeroom 

 being decided on, I proposed to Major Wayne to go to Alexandria, for 

 the purpose of looking at the trained dromedaries. It is from Arabia 

 that the Persians yearly receive their fine dromedaries, which they use 

 for military purposes, and Alexandria is the point from whence that 

 country and the southern part of Persia can be most easily reached. 

 From Alexandria to the head of the Persian gulf is about eight hun- 

 dred miles, and it is south of that, in the country of Oman, where the 



Ex. Doc. 62 3 



