PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOE MILITARY PURPOSES. 129 



i did not interfere in the matter, but neither of these were ever able 

 to stand up, no doubt being cramped in their limbs by the wrappings. 

 On the seventh or eight day a severe gale of wind commenced blowing, 

 and lasted with some violence for forty-eight hours, at the end of that 

 time the young ones both were dead, either through exhaustion or 

 from the unnatural course of treatment they had gone through ; they 

 were thrown overboard, the mothers testifying no grief whatever, nor 

 taking any notice of the absence of their young. B-efore throwing 

 them overboard, I had them skinned and examined, and found their 

 backs much bruised and discolored, with coagulated blood under the 

 spot where the bandages were tied across ; the cause of their deaths 

 was no longer doubtful, nature had not been sufficiently consulted in 

 the matter, I determined to pursue a different course with those to 

 •come. 



Our voyage down the Mediterranean was a rough one, the first ten 

 days we had nothing but head winds and heavy head seas, and in that, 

 time experienced two gales of wind, in which the ship rolled heavily ;. 

 the camels stood it all beautifully, and not one of them received the^ 

 ■slightest injury; they were kept tied down on their knees, with a. 

 thick bed of hay under them^ and examined every half hour, night 

 and day, to see that all was right. After the second gale we were- 

 favored with a good breeze that carried us out of the Mediterranean, 

 and I was in hopes of reaching the trade winds in two or three days, 

 when 1 felt the camels would be safe, but we unfortunately en- 

 countered westerly gales, which lasted six days, accompanied by a 

 heavy swell that lasted many days afterwards. During most of this 

 time the camels had to be kept secured on their knees, and were only 

 permitted to rise^ one at a time to remake their beds of hay, they 

 bore the rolling admirably, and did not seem to have suffered in the 

 least, although during ten days they obtained scarcely any repose. 

 The elements indeed seemed to conspire against us, and I thought at 

 one time that the animals would certainly suffer from so long a spell 

 of bad weather, but tliey ate and drank heartily in their recumbent 

 position, and when the gale was over, and they were permitted to 

 rise, they looked as fresh as if they been on shore. If any doubt 

 exists about camels being able to stand the transportation for so long 

 a voyage, the experience we have gained during the heavy weather 

 will put that doubt to rest ; for I think they will stand any kind of 

 weather, provided they are properly secured. All they want is good 

 ventilation, good food and water, and to be allowed to rise now and 

 then to relieve their limbs. Unlike a horse (that would be kicking 

 himself and those around him) the camels kneel of their own accord 

 when there is too much motion for them, and accommodate themselves 

 to the rolling of the vessel; care must be taken to put no sand under 

 them or about them, as it soon chafes the skin off. 



I may, perhaps, have dwelt too long on this subject, but so many 



persons have laughed at the absurdity of endeavoring to import camels, 



that I wish to do away with their prejudices, if they still exist, and 



also to encourage those who would desire to embark in the enterprise. 



When opposite to Tunis, another female gave symptoms of ap- 



Ex. Doc. 62 9 



