PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 235 



cross tie (f) below. Two sponge hooks, (g,) staples for stirrup 

 leathers, (h,) and one for the iDreast strap, (i,) all of iron, are set in. 

 The girth is fastened, as in the old pack, to the bars ; the straps (J) 

 are used for fastening the saddle-pads (P) to the saddle-bow. A sub- 

 stitute is added instead of the breech plate, and behind the stock of 

 the gun, consisting of a spring (figs. 4, 5, 6) which retains a small 

 plate of iron with a groove, (r,) to which is fitted, when the gun is 

 served, a plate of iron slightly arched, and fastened by a small key 

 (1 s) that enables the gun to be pointed to the right or left without 

 moving the carriage. 



This carriage requires an increase of force, which should be three 

 men to each piece, for it is impossible to place the piece in battery, to 

 serve it, and to hold the dromedaries without this increase of the 

 personnel. 



We have seen that the evolutions could not be conducted with 

 requisite regularity, because the cannoneer had enough to do to load 

 his gun, and so was prevented from guiding his animal. The addi- 

 tion of two cannoneers, mounted upon a second dromedary, remedies 

 this defect. This dromedary, besides the burden of the two men, 

 should also carry a double ammunition pouch containing the heavy 

 charges with bullets, the pouch of priming tubes, the priming wire, 

 (the lock doing away with the finger stall,) the lint stock, and the 

 worm. The two cannoneers should be armed, both with a sabre- 

 bayonet, a carbine, and a cartridge-box. The cannoneer mounted 

 upon the dromedary with the piece is equipped as before, except that 

 his cartridge-box is replaced by an ammunition poucli, to which is 

 added a second priming wire and a priming horn. This cannoneer 

 should be armed only with a sabre-bayonet. The ammunition in his 

 double pouch should be ball cartridges. The bannerol is done away 

 with. The men's rations are divided between the two dromedaries. 



By this arrangement the number of men and of dromedaries for a 

 company are as follows : 1 captain and 2 lieutenants on horseback, 

 4 sergeants on dromedaries, 10 corporals, 2 trumpeters, 1 adjutant, 

 1 quartermaster, and 50 cannoneers — in all, 71 ; aggregate : 46 drom- 

 edaries and 5 horses. 



FORMATION IN ORDER OF BATTLE. 



The company is formed in two ranks, (fig. 3.) The dromedaries 

 of the front rank, carrying a man and a gun, are at intervals of 1"\50 

 (five feet) apart. Those of the rear rank, carrying two cannoneers 

 sitting back to back, are three metres (about three yards) in rear of 

 those of the front rank and covering them. 



The captain's post is six metres in rear of the rank of file closers, 

 opposite to the centre of the company ; by his side are the trumpeters. 

 The lieutenants are in the front rank on the right of their platoons. 

 The adjutant and quartermaster, on horseback, in the rank of file 

 closers, are three metres in rear of the centre of each platoon. The 

 four sergeants, in the rank of file closers, are in the rear of the right 

 and left of the sections.* 



• These non-commissioned officers are armed with lance, sabre, and holster pistols. 



