68 PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES.. 



TO CHOOSE A GOOD ANIMAL. 



To avoid deception in the choice of a dromedary, one mnst be rerj 

 much a connoisseur of the animal, for I think it is more difficult to be 

 skilled in dromedaries than in horses/ One must have lived with 

 Arabs and their dromedaries to appreciate either the one or the other. 

 It may be conceived, then, how difficult it is to designate clearly what 

 constitutes a good dromedary. 



A dromedary should not be too tall, nor its legs too long, which 

 would give it a gaunt appearance ; nor should the chest be too wide 

 nor too heavy. 



The fore legs should not touch the callosity upon the breast. 



The two rowels or mullets (molettes) of the fore feet should be far 

 from touching each other when the animal walks. 



The belly should be round without being puffy, and the hump 

 should not be too big. 



The neck should be rather wide than narrow; the head well set on; 

 the eye large and the lips closed. 



In walking the animal should show suppleness in the neck and 

 have a wavy movement of the head. The more suppleness there is m 

 this motion the easier will be the gait. 



To be highly esteemed a dromedary should not cry when touched; 

 and when bridled (haltered, H. C. W) or saddled it should give 

 utterance only to a low grumbling. 



A dromedary should not be taken that has been seriously hurt near 

 the shoulders where the saddle rests ; though it does not indicate 

 disease, but proceeds only from the little care the Arabs give to keep- 

 ing their saddles in repair. In a female this is less objectionable, for 

 in giving birth, if her wounds have caused any disease^ it is almost 

 always cured. 



Five marks (cautery, H. C. W.) on either side of the callosity ob 

 the breast, or on the belly near the naval, indicate always internal 

 incurable disorders. 



The hind legs should not be too angular but rather straight. 



The hump sliould not be too much to the front, rather to the rear 

 is better, as then the saddle is more easily adjusted. 



The hair should not be too short, as then the animal is more easily 

 injured. 



The feet should be small ; the nails and the hair around them black 

 rather than white. 



Fawn colored dromedaries are more highly prized than those entirely 

 white. 



When mounted the dromedary should instantly and quickly rise 

 and start off. 



When the dromedary moves it should be with such spirit that the 

 rider is obliged to hold him in. This supports both. To urge him on 

 kick him on the shoulder with the foot. 



It is very difficult to find a dromedary uniting in itself all these 

 requisite qualities, and very rarely can such an one, especially if it is 

 a female, be purchased ; for the Arabs love their fine blooded drome- 



