120 PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 



a good "khan," that had been well cleansed, and presented quite a 

 different appearance to the Turkish khans in the neighborhood. On 

 the 10th February they were all equipped, and I commenced taking 

 them on board. As this is a process on which much depends, I will 

 here give a short description of the manner of getting them in ; having 

 described the boat and camel car, it will be unnecessary to do so a 

 second time. 



In the first place, the ship is anchored as close as possible to the 

 place of embarkation_, to save time ; the camel boat, with the car in it, 

 is towed on shore, and a force of about ten men sent to get the camels 

 in ; there is also sent on shore, in the boat, a good tackle, (not very 

 large,) a camel harness complete, spare j)lank, hammer and nails, 

 and about fifty fathoms of two-inch rope, all of which will be of use. 

 It is requisite to select a place for the boat, where she will lie with her 

 bow on a level with the wharf; if this cannot be done, and it is neces- 

 sary to " beach " her, then a strong bridge made of stout plank, and 

 about eight feet wide, will have to be constructed, strong enough to 

 bear not only the camels' weight, but to stand their struggling ; this I 

 was obliged to do. The bow of the boat being secured firmly to the 

 wharf or bridge, the harness is placed on the camel, and it is led up 

 as close as it will go ; if it will walk right into the car, one end of 

 which is placed on the gunwale of the bow, so much the better, (in no 

 instance did we find them willing to go in without force;) but if it 

 will not go in, then hook on the tackle to the breast strap of the har- 

 ness on the camel, let the men keep a steady pull upon it, and the 

 camel will go in without a hurt, no matter how much he may resist ; 

 four men guide the camel and keep it in the centre of the planks, and 

 one man leads it by the halter into the car, through which the tackle 

 is led, one block hooked to the other end of the boat. After it is in, 

 it is made to lie down, the knees tied around with ropes, a rope across 

 the neck and made fast to the knees, and two or three ropes across the 

 back to keep it down, it is then hoisted on to the camel deck without 

 fright or excitement of any kind ; all this will be intelligible to a sea- 

 man, who necessarily will have charge of the business. 



Having taken in all the camels, two days were occupied in fitting 

 to each one its proper harness, (for almost every one of them differed 

 in size and form,) marking their numbers on the harness, and fitting 

 out each one with brush and curry-comb, all of which is necessary to 

 be done before going to sea. Hay racks, made of large open net-work, 

 were fitted amid-ships, extending the whole length of camel deck ; 

 large bags, filled with hay, were placed against the ship's side for 

 their haunches to rest against, and two ropes fitted for securing to 

 the harness on each camel. Four large lanterns with reflectors were 

 put up and lighted every evening at sunset ; two large water tubs 

 kept filled, in case of fire ; and the fire apparatus, that was fitted up 

 before leaving New York, kept ready for immediate use. The fol- 

 lowing regulations were hung up on the camel deck, and as they may 

 serve as a guide hereafter, I herewith insert them : 



