34 PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 



dromedary is procured ; though much used in Persia, the best are to 

 he procured in Arabia, and it is found that even in the northern parts 

 of Persia, where it is cold, that the dromedary soon becomes accli- 

 mated. Cold is the weather in which camels thrive, and not hot, as 

 is erroneously supposed. 



Major Wayne has left, in company with Mr. Heap, for Cairo, where 

 he intends putting himself in communication with Mr. De Leon, the 

 United States consul, and be governed by the information he may get 

 from him. I did not join him in the expedition, as there was no par- 

 ticular object in my going ; and, as the winter is coming on, I thought 

 it advisable to stay and look out for my ship. I would not be justified 

 in leaving her in charge of any one under present circumstances. 



It is Major Wayne's intention, I believe, to procure ten dromeda- 

 ries of the swift kind, if the pacha will permit them to be taken out 

 of the country. There is at present an express prohibition against the 

 exportation of any animal without government permission. I trust 

 he may procure animals that have been bred in the country ; those 

 brought up in and about the city would be worthless to export. I 

 feel that I should have no difficulty in carrying over safely any num- 

 ber of good camels. 



Our trip to the Crimea was an interesting one in many respects, but 

 particularly in enabling us to see the " Bactrian camel," the only 

 place where we could possibly have seen it. They are magnificent 

 looking creatures^ and far superior in size and appearance to the 

 one-humped camel, though I do not think them so well adapted to 

 hard work. Those we saw were in fine condition, even after having 

 passed through a hard winter, living as best they might, and exposed 

 out of doors to all sorts of weather. Their humps had, in some in- 

 stances been mashed down, owing to improper loading, but it did not 

 seem to impair their efficiency. I saw them working in a cart and 

 otherwise, but not in such great numbers as the other camel, which 

 was evidently much more rapid in its motions, but not so strong. 



There will be little or no difficulty in finding good camels hereafter. 

 All of Asia Minor, as far south as 35 degrees of latitude, and as far 

 east as 40 degrees of longitude, abounds with them, and can be easily 

 reached. No better place than Smyrna can be found for shipping 

 them, and the best can be procured at a journey of seven or eight 

 days from that place. 



There are great differences in the animal, as you will see by the 

 different sketches of them that have been taken. Their appearance 

 depends very much on how they are treated. The Egyptians, the 

 most inconsiderate and cruel camel-masters in the world, have the 

 most wretched looking beasts ; while the Turk, more humane in his 

 disposition, keeps his flock in fine order. In our country they would 

 be of such value to any farmer' south of thirty-six degrees that they 

 would be fostered with the greatest care. A horse is, in the United 

 •States, considered a valuable animal, but he will, in point of worth 

 for labor, in no way compare with a camel, and I hope to see the day 

 when every southern planter will be using the animal extensively. 

 It will be an easy matter at any time for farmers to import a pair of 



