44 PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 



Alexandria, Egypt, January 3, 1856. 



Sir : I returned to this place from Cairo, on the 30th ultimo, after 

 having sent oft", the day before, the five dromedaries I h^d purchased, 

 and which arrived here yesterday. 



On the 31st December, I learned that a third application had been 

 made to the viceroy on the 30th December, by the consul general, 

 who had succeeded in obtaining permission to export ten camels. 

 Unfortunately this concession comes too late to be of benefit to us, as 

 the time fixed for our departure for Smyrna is at hand, and will not 

 admit of my return to Cairo, and looking up animals again. And, 

 indeed, it is, after all, a matter of little consequence, for the drome- 

 daries I have will enable us to show the riding qualities of the animal 

 to our people, and to commence testing its adaptation to the express 

 service, to be extended next year, as I have before said, in my letter 

 of the 28th ultimo, by an importation of dromedaries exclusively. I 

 was somewhat disappointed at first, I confess, by my want of success 

 in procuring permission to export the full number of animals, twenty 

 that I had asked for, but upon reflection, I think that as it has turned 

 out, it is, perhaps, better than if my request had been granted ; for 

 attracted by the size, strength, and fine appearance of the Egyptian 

 camel, I might have, in a measure, jeoparded our experiment by 

 taking from Egypt a larger number than that at first fixed upon, and 

 which would not have been so well adapted to the more rugged climate 

 of Texas, as those from Asia Minor. 



Yesterday, at Mr. De Leon's request, I gave him two Minie rifles, 

 as he said he had promised them to the viceroy on the 30th ultimo. 

 To make the gift complete, I added a bullet-mould and a swedge. 



As soon as the dromedaries are on board, Lieutenant Porter will 

 take the first fair wind for Smyrna, where I have sent Mr. Heap in 

 advance of us, to make arrangements for procuring camels, as I find 

 that the presence of the vessel, or of Lieutenant Porter or myself, who 

 are now well known to be connected with the enterprise, materially 

 interferes with our selection and purchases, by exciting speculation 

 among a certain class of men resident in all the towns of the east. 



We have collected a good deal of positive information in regard to 

 the camel, which will be of practical use to our people, should the 

 experiment be so successful (as I fully anticipate) as to induce the 

 importation of the animal on private account ; and we are now about 

 to commence its first difficulty, that of transportation. 



Our return to the United States shall be as soon as we can efiect it, 

 and I think I may repeat that we shall be off Indianola, early in May, 

 where I hope to find everything ready for lightering and landing the 

 animals. I shall write you now more frequently, advising you of our 

 progress, until the day of our departure for home. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



HENRY C. WAYNE, 



Major United States Army. 



Hon. Jefferson Davis, 



Secretary of War, Washington. 



