PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 71 



of copulation, turns to the front ; the camel only difFerlng in this, 

 that the female lies down, as when receiving a load, and in this 

 position the male covers her. 



It is very certain that the camel does not require the assistance of 

 man in copulating. 



After twelve days it is known whether or not the female has con- 

 ceived. If she has, at the moment of stepping out when started off 

 she raises her tail, and does not cry. 



The gestation of the dromedary is twelve lunar months. They can 

 be ridden up to the last moment, and it often happens that females 

 bring forth upon a journey, when, if a halt of some days cannot be 

 made, the little one is placed upon its mother's back, and the journey 

 is continued. 



It is a great mistake to say that dromedaries do not lie down 

 naturally, and that it is only by training that they are made to 

 execute that motion. Dromedaries of a few hours old only will lie 

 down near their mothers. 



i Dromedaries suckle their young for six months, at the least, and for 

 a year at the most; at this age the young will eat grass, tender 

 plants, and grain. 



The rations per day of large dromedaries is equivalent to that of a 

 horse, and is either of beans, dourha, (a small grain, farinaceous, and 

 much used for food in Egypt, among other purposes in making bread, 

 H. C. W.,) or wheat. The beans should be broken, the wheat also, 

 which should, moreover, be slightly moistened. The dourha is given 

 whole. The best food for a journey is wheat, the next dourha, and 

 the next beans. 



When in a town, a little chopped straw is given, in addition to the 

 ration, and in the desert the dromedaries are permitted to eat certain 

 plants. When pasture is found the ration is saved. 



A dromedary should generally not drink oftener than every other 

 day in the heat of summer, and every fourth day in winter. Often 

 in travelling it goes eight and ten days without drinking, particularly 

 if in winter, and when it can pasture. 



Dromedaries are not broken to riding until they are between two or 

 three years old, and to put it off longer would be to risk their being 

 restiff. 



The training of a young dromedary is first begun by saddling him 

 for several days without mounting him. When accustomed to the 

 saddle, he is then mounted and ridden only at the pace, being con- 

 stantly kept up to it and restrained from exceeding it. Afterwards 

 he is taught to run, and is urged and excited to pass other dromedaries 

 that may run with him. 



In the first stages of training the dromedary should not be made 

 to lie down for the rider to mount or dismount, but should be mounted 

 standing. Without this precaution the young dromedary will acquire 

 the habit of lying down without orders whenever a little fatigued. 



