226 PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOE MILITAEY PUEPOSES. 



and corporals. The number of dromedaries is the same, and they 

 must he six years old to be accepted. Each is armed with a small 

 cannon. To complete the corps, there are also twenty-fiye musicians, 

 mounted upon dromedaries superbly caparisoned, who announce with 

 the sound of drumbs, tomtoms, trumpets, and brass drums, the reveille, 

 the retreat ; likewise the festival days, the solemn entry of the king, 

 and the receptions at court. Soldiers and musicians, to the number of 

 two hundred and twenty-five, are commanded by a colonel, two majorS;, 

 four captains, and eight lieutenants. 



The pay of each cannoneer is about $19 a year. The uniform is as 

 follows : jacket of blue cloth, with red facings ; wide pantaloons of 

 blue cloth ; high boots of black leather ; grey cloak, with long sleeves ; 

 cavalry, sabre, and pouch ; white belt. 



The dromedary carries a broad saddle of wood, very substantially 

 made, and covered with black felt, and with iron stirrups. The pads 

 are fastened to the tree by means of leather throngs tied together, and 

 are open at top to fit the hump of the dromedary. The stuffing is of 

 straw. In the pommel of the saddle is worked a hole, lined with 

 iron, in which is fitted a wrought iron pivot, turning upon itself, and 

 ending in two branches, in the manner of a fork, at the extremities 

 of which are rings intended to receive the trunnions of a gun of twisted 

 iron, Om. 70 (2 feet 9 inches) long, and 80 miskal (near 14 ounces*) 

 in calibre. To the breech of this gun is attached a wooden stock 

 Om. 40 (1 foot 6 inches) long, shaped like that of a musket, and with 

 a flint-lock. Two ammunition pouches of thick woolen stuff, covered 

 with black leather, hang from the two sides of the saddle, carrying, 

 fifty ball and grape cartridges ; besides twenty blank cartridges for 

 salutes. Behind the saddle rises a staff or pike, surmounted by a 

 red bannerol. From this staff" falls a red housing which covers the 

 ammunition pouches. Under the belly of the dromedary hangs a 

 skin filled with water. The bridle is of common leather, and is at- 

 tached to the headstall by an iron chain and toggle, passed through 

 its rings. The headstall, breaststrap, surcingle, and girth are orna- 

 mented with fringe of red, yellow, and blue wool. 



The zembouretchis, thus mounted, are arranged by fifties, which 

 forms a deste, (company,) under the orders of a soultan (captain) and 

 two naips, (lieutenants,) who are mounted on horses, and are in- 

 structed in the infantry exercise and in the school of the piece of the 

 regular artillery. Their manoeuvres are as follows : They form in 

 one rank, with intervals of five feet between them, (when marching 

 the interval is reduced ;) the sergeants and corporals are in the same 

 rank with the privates ; the lieutenants are on the right of their sec- 

 tions ; the captain moves where he can best oversee the execution of 

 his commands. When the dromedaries march by the flank or in 

 single or double file the captain is at their head, but when the nature 

 of the ground will permit they march in line, in one rank. When 

 marching by flank they form in line of battle to the right or left, 

 taking the interval above mentioned, make a half face to the right 

 and kneel down. The cannoneer dismounts, aims, fires, and reloads 

 before mounting ; sometimes he loads and fires while marching. Thi& 

 manoeuvre executed, they fall back upon the wings of the line, and^, 



