PUECHASE OF CAMELS FOE MILITAEY PUEPOSES. 75 



most likely camels to thrive in a foreign country, according to the 

 opinion of an Arab to whom I mentioned the subject, would be the 

 "shemalieh," or northern camels, found with the " Aneze" Arabs ; of 

 these, the " khouauri and gudieh breeds in Arak" (Mesopotamia) 

 would be the best ; they could be purchased for from |50 to |75 each. 

 After them come the sherarieh. This Arab also informed me that 

 wherever a species of shrub, called in Arabic "^ hand," and the botanic 

 name of which I do not know, grows, the northern camel will thrive ; 

 and, it was doubtful whether the Nomany camel, or those from the 

 south of Egypt, would thrive in a colder climate, or in a moist climate. 



Query. What weight would they (the camels for burden) carry? 

 Answer. Habitually, 500 lbs., net; and for short distances as much 

 as 1,000 lbs. 



Query. How many miles per diem, and how many hours in each 

 twenty- four? Answer. The usual rate of loaded camels is from 

 twenty-five to thirty miles a day, which they perform in from nine to 

 twelve hours. 



Query. Can the dromedary or camel travel over stony or moun- 

 tainous country? 



Answer. Stony ground is apt to injure their feet, and they are 

 awkward in surmounting obstacles in mountainous parts, still a mod- 

 erate extent of hills will not interrupt their progress. 



Query. Over snow? Answer. Certainly not; the Egyptian or 

 Arabian camel is unaccustomed to snow ; the camels of Asia, however, 

 must be inured to snow. 



Query. Could they swim, if necessary, with a burden ? Answer. 

 The camel can swim, but requires to be guided by a man swimming 

 with it in the water. With burdens, unless of cork, they certainly 

 would make little way above the surface of the water. 



Query. AVhat species of dromedary or camel is it that they have in 

 use in Egypt ? This has already been answered. 



Query. How long can they go without water? Answer. In win- 

 ter, five days ; in summer, three days. 



Query. Without food? Answer. The camel always finds food in 

 the scanty herbage of the desert. God has left no part of the earth 

 so bare as not to sustain the life it produces. 



Query. Is their exportation forbidden? Answer. This depends 

 upon the existing treaties, and the interpretation of them. 



Query. What would be the proper season to send them by sea to a 

 foreign country ? Answer. About the end of May. 



Query. Could five or six Arabs be hired to accompany them? An- 

 swer. Not easily ; but slaves, accustomed to camels, and brought up 

 with the Arabs, might be obtained for hire or otherwise ; or perhaps 

 some of the Arabs bordering Egypt might be induced to go ; or even 

 Egyptians, versed in the habits and treatment of camels, might be 

 procured. 



Query. If so, at what rate of wages ? Answer. The rate of wages, 

 compared to American rates, would be of no importance. 

 Yours, truly^ 



FKEDEKICK AYETOUN. 



Edwin De Leon, Esq., 



77. >S'. Consul General for Egypt, &c. 



