PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 121 



Rules and Regulations for camel deck. 



1. No open light to be allowed ; lamp to be lighted at sunset. 



2. One person is always to be on watch on the camel deck, even at 

 meal time. 



3. Nothing of any kind is to be kept unlashed, and no tools of any 

 kind, by which the animals can be hurt, to be allowed on the deck. 



4. The camels are to be fed and watered every day at three o'clock 

 precisely ; the females having young ones to be fed and watered at 

 seven o'clock in the morning besides. 



5. The camels are always to have their covers on in cold weather ; 

 harness kept on at all times, and harness ropes rove at sunset. 



6. The deck is never to be wet, unless by order. 



7. The hay racks must be filled every two days^ and the amount of 

 feed expended kept account of. 



8. The least thing the matter with an animal must be reported to 

 me at once by the person in charge, and no change whatever in the 

 management of them to be made without my orders. 



9. The camels must never be struck with anything but the flat of 

 the hand ; their beds to be littered down before sunset. 



10. Each camel is to be curried and brushed half an hour every day, 

 and their legs and feet well rubbed. 



11. The "argols" are never to be left lying on the deck, but the men 

 on watch are to keep them cleaned up and thrown overboard ; the 

 camels' feet are to be cleaned with soap and water twice a week, and 

 salt to be given them once a week. 



12. When the camels lie down at sea, particular care must be ob- 

 served in putting hay under their knees and haunches. 



13. In warm weather the ventilating windows must be kept open, 

 and the wind sails kept trimmed. 



14. The men in charge of camels to sleep on the camel deck. 



15. The " callosities" on the camels' knees are to be oiled once a 

 week. 



The above regulations were well observed^, and I believe they em- 

 brace almost everything relating to the treatment of camels at sea. 



The treatment of the camel and dromedary is about the same. At 

 first some of the former refused to eat the oats and peas, when four 

 pounds of dough-ball (or barley flour mixed with water) was given 

 them, of which they ate heartily. In a day or two, however, they 

 will take to the oats if deprived of their dough-ball, and the oats is 

 much better food for them at sea. 



Mr. Heap procured a lot of very good camels at Smyrna ; the males 

 were remarkably fine, but the females were not so handsome (though 

 young and strong) as he would have obtained had more time been 

 allowed him. The mistake we made was in not sending him through 

 "Asia Minor" to hunt up choice animals while the ship was visiting 

 other places. We were fortunate in procuring all. sound camels ; not 

 one of them turned out badly. 



Smyrna is, without doubt, the best port in Asia Minor to ship 

 camels from ; but although there are immense numbers in Smyrna, 

 it does not follow that the best can be bought there. 



