PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 191 



Two dragomen three months, at forty dollars $240 



Cost and ex[)enses of ten dromedaries of the best kind, 



three hundred dollars each 3,000 



Accoutrements for the same 500 



Occasional escorts from Arab tribes, presents to sheiks, &c. 600 



Provender for animals 400 



7,540 



This would be a large amount to pay for ten animals, coming from 

 a climate not at all like the one they are going to, and I think it more 

 than probable that the whole thing would be a failure. Under these 

 circumstances, I have concluded to go direct to Smyrna^ and procure 

 a good number of camels of superior breeds, and by obtaining young 

 ones of one or two years, they can soon be broken in to act as a drom- 

 edary corps. Those animals used by the pacha of Egypt are not the 

 blooded dromedary^ but the common Arabian camel trained to the 

 service. I could procure, without going out of Egypt, a sufficient 

 number of blooded dromedaries with the amount I estimated for, three 

 thousand dollars, but Mr. De Leon says in his letter, " when I ob- 

 tained from the viceroy of Egypt the temporary suspension 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 the special occasion only, and not again 

 to be demanded." 



Under these circumstances, I think, sir, you will agree with me 

 that it would be useless to go to Egypt, unless the consul (ould 

 promise a certainty of getting what we want. As to making a jour- 

 ney of two thousand miles through a country where the tribes are in 

 open hostility to each other, and where, when I was in Egypt, it was 

 impossible to go, did not, I think, enter into your calculation. I 

 would promise to go and get the aiumals if ordered to do so, but am 

 afraid I should have to account for them as expended on the road, as 

 they would all certainly be stolen after the money v/as paid down. 



I think I can promise to bring from Smyrna such animals as will 

 please you. Mr. Hea[) has already set out for the interior of Asia 

 Minor, and will procure the best animals that money can purchase ; 

 and instead of ten dromedaries only, (which would make rather a 

 poor show for so much money,) we will procure, I hope, forty-five 

 camels that will fully answer all your expectations. As soon as I 

 get through the delivery of my stores, and stop at some place to make 

 some money arrangements, I proceed direct to Smyrna, v/here a letter 

 from you will reach me in time to change my plans in case you think 

 it desirable. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



DAVID D. POKTER, 



Lieut. Com'g. 



Hon. Jefferson Davis, 



Secretary of War. 



