PUECHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 205 



Aral, the camel with two humps ; from Lake Aral to the sea of Oran, 

 the dromedary with one hump. 



The dromedary is of two kinds, one strong and massive in form, 

 which inhabits the north in the provinces of Azer-bijan, Irak-Adjemi, 

 Asterabad, and Khorasan ; the other weaker, but more active, found 

 in the southern provinces of Khoosistan, Farsistan, Kerman, Yezd, 

 Laristan, &c. The only provinces in which the camel is not raised 

 is Koordistan, which is the extreme frontier, adjacent to Turkey, 

 Ghilan, and Mazanderan, where the transportation is done by oxen, 

 mules, &c. 



The dromedary is not found wild. It lives for thirty years, but 

 rarely attains that age, being either sacrificed in honor of some great 

 personage,* or sold to the shambles. Their docility is proverbial ; to 

 such a degree that the Oriental fabulists say that the dromedary would 

 be led by a mouse. Bad treatment makes them stupid ; they become 

 confusecl by it, but they are sensible to kindness. They retain their 

 spite for a long time, and often revenge themselves upon those who 

 maltreat them.t Before they are five years old they are trained to 

 carry the pack-saddle. When too heavily loaded they utter plain- 

 tive cries, and even shed tears, and it is only by blows and by push- 

 ing them up from behind that they can be induced to rise. Arrived 

 at the end of the stage, they are unloaded, with the exception of the 

 pack-saddle, which is left on to prevent the animal from becoming 

 chilled, the nights in Persia being cool even in summer. Through- 

 out the year they sleep in the open air, oare only being taken to 

 shelter them from the wind, by placing them behind a wall, in the 

 courtyard of a caravanserai, or in some low spot. Covered with 

 large pieces of carpet and matting, and thus protected, they sleep even 

 upon the snow. 



When rutting they are vicious, and sometimes ferocious. They are 

 then removed trom their companions and the lower jaw and knee are 

 tied together. If fond of the driver they will permit him to approach, 

 and will receive food from him, but if they entertain any spite against 

 him they will endeavor to avenge themselves by refusing food, by 

 attacking, biting, or knocking him down, and will kill him if not 

 prevented. Luckily, the rutting season is not the same for all in a 

 herd of dromedaries ; not more than two or three in twenty are in this 

 condition at the same time, which allows of all necessary precautions 

 being taken to avoid accidents; but if they become unmanageable they 

 are castrated, and are only used in caravans for transporting mer- 



* To do honor to distinguished guests in Persia it is customary to sacrifice a domestic 

 animal in their- presence, such as a sheep, goat, ox, or dromedary The head of the 

 slaughtered animal is thrown under the horses feet of the chief as he passes, and the flesh is 

 distributed among his people. 



f Reliable witnesses have assured me that a dromedary once, in revenge for bad treatment, 

 deliberately rose from his place for the night, and going to his driver, lay down upon him with 

 all his weight. The driver was found the next morning crushed under him. This same 

 dromedary was sold to another master, who was probably more gentle, as he never after- 

 wards exhibited any viciousness. 



The devedjis or chuturbdn, (camel drivers,) have often told me that they were obliged to 

 exhibit no preferences for any of their dromedaries, for fear of exciting jealousies among 

 them ; not only with the intention of preserving harmony, but to prevent their pining away. 



