PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 89 



cells, whicli may altogether contain twenty pints of water, which will 

 remain in them without deterioration, and to such an extent, stated by 

 a celebrated traveller, that he has seen a camel disemboweled that 

 had been dead ten days, in whose reservoir was found three pints of 

 water yet drinkable ; compressing these cells or this reservoir, by the 

 action of the appropriate muscles, the animal moistens its food. The 

 Arabs say, (and the French in Algiers seem inclined to the same 

 opinion,) thatthe water is produced by an alimentary secretion "per se." 

 A dromedary dying by accident, it was opened in the presence of 

 several French officers. The reservoir presented the appearance and 

 consistency of a melon and contained more than fifteen pints of a 

 greenish water with no bad flavor. The Arabs present affirmed that 

 if it were allowed to settle for three days it would become clear and 

 drinkable. The French tried it, and the Arabs were found to be 

 correct in their statements. 



THE CAMEL IN BAD ROADS. 



It often happens that in ascending an acclivity or muddy road, the 

 camel falls upon his knees, his fore feet slipping. He does not then 

 try to rise but goes on in that position, nor does he try to right him- 

 self until he is out of the bad part of the road. He easily slips on 

 clay soil, especially after rain. He should in such case be brought to a 

 halt, as he is liable to break his legs, especially the hinder ones. There 

 is not the same amount of danger in rocky ground, although the Arabs 

 in the latter case cover their feet with a sort of moccasin or shoe of 

 bullock hide to protect them from being cut when they slip. 



CHARACTER OF THE CAMEL. 



The camel is the most gentle and submissive of all animals. It is 

 somewhat stubborn, it is true, but not so much so as the mule, and it is 

 easily and quickly corrected. It is so patient that it will proceed 

 with its load until completely exhausted, and then it falls never again 

 to rise. In the military expedition of the French in Algiers, in the 

 month of April, 1844, it was astonishing to see their camels, although 

 reduced to skeletons, making forced marches with their loads. Mules 

 in their condition could not have carried even their saddles. 



PACK-SADDLE. 



The pack-saddle for the camel is composed of three parts : the cylin- 

 drical pack, or pad of woolen or hair cloth, the wooden frame, and 

 the ropes. When the wool or hair cloth has been cut into the form of 

 a cylinder, it is stuffed with straw or other light substance. The 

 cloth must not be woven too close. The wooden part of the saddle is 

 of various forms, differing according to the country in which the camel 

 is used. It is made of two cross bars of hard wood, formed into the 

 shape of the letter V reversed, and joined near the top by two horizontal 

 transverse pieces of wood. It is placed over the pack, one of the cross 

 bars being in front of the hump, the other in the rear of it. The 



