56 PUECHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITAEY PURPOSES. 



prickly pear, and other thorny vegetables, and thereby reducing ma- 

 terially the obligation of providing it with food. A little, besides — 

 thanks to its hump — goes a great way, so that, in comparison with 

 other animals of burden or draught, it requires a less provision of 

 forage; an economy at any time,, but materially an advantageous 

 arrangement for a journey. The camel can also, on emergency, 

 travel three, four, even 'seven days without water or food; and it is 

 serviceable from four to twenty-five years of age. 



As mi animal of burden, the power of the camel depends upon its 

 stock, and, measurably, upon climate ; those of Central Asia being 

 ordinarily stronger and more vigorous than those of Africa or India. 

 I have seen, though, in Egypt many noble camels capable of carrying 

 as heavy loads as any that I saw or heard of inAsia, From the most 

 reliable information, confirmed by observation, a very strong camel will 

 carry for short distances, say from one part of a town to another, about 

 from 1,000 to 1^200 pounds. I have heard much heavier loads men- 

 tioned, but I placed no reliance upon the statements for two reasons: 

 first, because the loads of camels are not weighed, but only as much 

 put upon them as they can rise under : and secondly, because the 

 oriental habit of amplification prevails in every word spoken by an 

 inhabitant of the east. I do not mean by this to allege intentional 

 moral obliquity, but only the habitual indulgence of a prolific and 

 vivid imagination. 



On journeys the loads for the strongest camels range from 450 to 600 

 pounds, and of the common kinds from 300 to 450 pound ; and these 

 they will carry from eighteen to thirty miles a day according to the 

 character of the country, whether broken or level, over which they 

 travel, and moving for the usual daily travelling time of from eight 

 to ten hours. With lighter loads they will travel somewhat faster. 



The average travelling load of camels of the different countries 

 and provinces may be stated as follows: of Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, 

 and Tripoli, from 300 to 400 pounds; of Egppt, from 350 to 550 

 pounds; of Asia Minor, Syria and other portions of Turkey in Asia, 

 of Persia, and of Tartary, the strongest including loks or males, and 

 the hybrid booghdee, or tiulus and mayas, from 500 to 600 pounds; and 

 the common stock, including the arvanas or breeding females, from 300 

 to 450 pounds; ofCabool, Beloochistan, Hindoostan, Birmah, Thibet 

 and Mongolia, from 300. to 400 pounds. The camels around Constan- 

 tinople being imported almost altogether from Asia Minor, not bred 

 there, from 300 to 600 pounds according to quality. 



As a saddle animal, or dromedary, the capacity of the camel for 

 burden is little, its conformation to qualify it for riding being neces- 

 sarily lighter, but it compensates by speed for its comparative want of 

 power. The average load for a dromedary ranges from 150 to 300 

 pounds, and this he will carry continually, travelling from eight to 

 ten hours a day, about fifty miles a day. On emergency they will 

 make from seventy to ninety miles a day, but this only for a day or 

 two, and over a level country, (see Nos. 1 and 3.) Instances of greater 

 speed being kept up for several successive days are related, but they are 

 few and far between. Wonderful stories are told by the Arabs of the 

 speed of the mJiari, el herie, delool, do.; Linant Bey'scoijiment upon such 



