PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 189 



A remittance will be made to you of ten thousand dollars, for the 

 purchase of camels and the expenses connected therewith. 

 I am, sir, &c.^ 



THOMAS S. JESUP, 

 Quartermaster General. 

 Lieut. B. D. Porter, 



United States Ship Supply, New York. 



Consulate G-eneral of the TJ. S. of America in Egypt, 



Alexandria, August 14, 1856. 



Dear Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 

 communication of June 18, 1856, and it will afford me great pleasure 

 to give Lieutenant Porter all the aid in my power for the furtherance 

 of his mission. 



When I obtained from the viGe-"oy of Egypt the temporary suspen- 

 sion of the rigid prohibition of the exportation of animals from his 

 dominions, it was distinctly stated and understood that it was to be 

 regarded as an act of international courtesy for this special occasion 

 only, and not again to be demanded, for reasons which will be obvious 

 to you, and which I have already explained. The order which 

 Lieutenant Porter retains is therefore valueless now, nor could I in 

 good faith ask for its renewal. 



The viceroy has promised to give the necessary firmans to the local 

 authorities authorizing the passage through Egypt, and the embarka- 

 tion at Alexandria, of as many animals as we may purchase from 

 the Hedjaz, or elsewhere beyond his limits. 



I have also obtained such assistance as will render Lieutenant Por- 

 ters' task less difficult, by entering into preliminary negotiations with 

 one of the Arab Sheiks from the Hedjaz, who offers to provide choice 

 dromedaries from his own stock at reasonable prices. 



In conformity with your request, I shall immediately write to Lieu- 

 tenant Porter duplicate letters directed to Smyrna and Spezzia, enclosing 

 also copies of this communication, and feel fully satisfied that (unless 

 unforseen circumstances prevent) no impediments will retard his speedy 

 and satisfactory performance of the duty assigned him. 



The successful issue of the first essay must be very encouraging to 

 you, sir, who have so long and energetically pressed this useful work 

 to a conclusive trial. 



The viceroy of Egypt has recently organized a dromedary corps, and 

 as I suppose the details may interest you, subjoin such particulars as 

 I have been enabled to obtain respecting it. But a few days since the 

 corps passed through the town of Alexandria, and the noiseless progress 

 of so large a body of men and animals was not the least curious part 

 of the spectacle. A blind man would not have known anything was 

 passing. 



For a night march or a surprise this peculiarity would render such 

 a corps most effectire. The present force of this corps amounts to 



