PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 109 



the purposes for which camels are wanted in the United States. There 

 would be some difficulty, also, in procuring any great number, for the 

 Bactrian, being a native of the northern part of Persia, is not found in 

 great numbers to the south, where the males (Bohoor) are only brought 

 and sold as breeders. They produce a cross which is much esteemed 

 by the people of Asia Minor, &c., and is of great strength and size. 

 The cross, however, is a hybrid and does not propagate, or, if it does, 

 the produce is a very small and inferior animal, not larger than a 

 small horse; it is called a "kokurt" and will only carry very small 

 burdens, besides being extremely delicate. The Arabian camel was 

 used in the Crimea to some extent, particularly in the beginning of 

 the war, when horses could not be procured. They were found at 

 that time to be very serviceable in carrying up the heavy weights 

 which horses could not move. If any doubt exists about the camel 

 being able to endure the coldest kind of weather, a reference to the 

 weather and winter of 1855-6, in the Crimea, will convince the most 

 skeptical that cold is not the greatest inconvenience they have to ap- 

 prehend. With good stabling and proper food, reasonable treatment 

 when sick, and the absence of all Bedouin or Turkish doctoring, they 

 will go through very severe cold. 



I believe that camels have always been used in the "Crimea," par- 

 ticularly the Bactrian. I do not think any of the persons engaged in 

 the transportation service were fair judges of their utility, neither did 

 they seem to know much about their habits or the mode of using them, 

 being naturally accustomed to the use of horses their prejudices likely 

 led them to prefer the latter ; nevertheless, the English government 

 have bought up a good many in Asia Minor, (for the ensuing cam- 

 paign,) which were on their way to the Crimea at last accounts. In 

 an active war like that carried on before Sebastopol, horses, no doubt, 

 are much preferable to camels, moving only for short distances and 

 with rapidity. Camels have their advantages, but more particularly 

 in making long journeys and passing over wide tracts of desert where 

 there is a scarcity of food and water. We spent four days on shore in 

 the Crimea ; too short a time to learn much about the camel operations. 

 We heard reports about large numbers being bought up by the French 

 for future operations. I do not think there was any foundation for 

 these reports, as the French have, apparently, discontinued the use 

 of camels altogether, being more accustomed to the management of 

 mules, of which they had a magnificent lot. 



On our return to Constantinople, we found, from inquiries made 

 by our dragoman (Mr. Brown), and from information given at the 

 Persian embassy, that it was not advisable to go into Persia so late 

 in the season, on account of snow ; but more particularly for fear of 

 meeting with delay on the return trip in the spring, when the snows 

 begin to thaw and render the mountain roads impassable. If Major 

 Wayne had gone, I should have been unable to have accompanied 

 him, as it was necessary for me to remain and purchase the camels to 

 allow us to make an early start for home. Taking all things into 

 consideration, I think our wisest plan was to give the trip up and 

 turn our attention to Egypt, which we accordingly did. 



Our dragoman (Mr. Brown) informed me that the Turkish govern- 



