M7 



uuirclnui>- has to be gouo through, gross weight should bo consi- 

 dered ill all issue of loads, whereas the Conimissariat Departineut 

 naturally are apt to consider only net weight. The estimate of 

 weight by soldiers is sometimes so vague as to lead tt) (JOO jkuhkIs 

 being piled on the camel rather than 4U0 lbs. 'Die biscuit and 

 other boxes sent out from England proved too large and tuo 

 weighty, they were difficult to load and liable to shift and so galled 

 the animal (Bennett). Col. Furse agrees tha,t these rectangular 

 cases were a great source of galls and that sacks would be better 

 than cases, as they can be better adjusted and prevented froru 

 swaying, which form of movement especially is liable to gall. 

 Six biscuit boxes (57 lbs. x G =>= 8J-2 lbs.), three on each side, 

 constituted the load for one.cameb but this forms a " deep " load, 

 the bearing of which is iiot perpendicularly do svu wards but 

 inwai'ds, compressing the animal's ribs and sides. To reduce the 

 depth only five boxes (= 285 lbs.) had to be assigned to eacli 

 load, two on each side and one on the top. 



Note 15. — Queriple in the Nile Expedition Reports gives some 

 very useful experiences of Camel Managemknt on Servick, 

 especially as regards swlmniing. The Nile was crossed by the 

 River Column twice. '' The first time on 20th and 21st February 

 •when about 800 animals were crossed in 24 hours, only two ani- 

 mals were lost ; being on the bank opposite to the Veterinary 

 Surgeon there was no chance of his resuscitating them, eight 

 subsequently arrived in a very exhausted and serai -suffocated 

 state but were given restoratives, revived, and suffered no ill 

 effects. Mr. Queriple reported that (1) The Veterinary Surgeon 

 should always cross before the animals and be ready to assist 

 any animal exhausted on arrival. (2) The head and collar rope 

 should not be used at all as any strain on it is liable to entirely 

 close tlie mouth and to impede the animal's breathing by draw- 

 ing the noseband over the nostrils. (3) A plain rope should be 

 formed into q, fixed noose round the neck. This rope should not 

 be passed round the nose as was done in some cases. (4) Boat's 

 crew to row slowly or the animal's head will be dragged under 

 water. (5) Especially the heaviest camels should be supported 

 by an inflated skin each placed on the neck and fastened to the 



