us 



slioiiltlers. (G) The crossing sliould not be commenced when 

 practicable before tlie sun is well up^ and should be discontinued 

 at such time as will ensure the animals being perfectly dry before 

 sunset. (7) A certain number of men should be sent over by 

 the boat taking over the first camel of the Corps. They should 

 move saddles and loads well away from the shore lest a block 

 occur and impede the landing. Immediately the camels come 

 out of the water they should be walked about until perfectly dry. 

 (8) The crossing of the animals to be left to Officers Command- 

 ing Corps and they to be responsible for proper fixing of ropes. 



Six camels suffered from ' staggers ' the result of crossing 

 when the water was too cold and being tied up in the pickets to 

 dr3^ Of them three had to be turned loose and deserted. Feb- 

 rile catarrh (6 cases) and rheumatism (1 case) also i^esulted from 

 the crossing. All the casualties occurred among camels with 

 British Troops. The second crossing was less successful^ for the 

 instructions were not adhered to. The camels were crossed with 

 a half hitch round the nostrils and in a very short time ten were 

 landed dead and many others dying. Orders to cease the half 

 hitch were signalled over the river and no more casualties 

 occurred that day. On the second day half a gale of wind was 

 blowing and three were drowned. Forty-seven animals reported 

 by the boatmen ' dead ' were revived by means of restoratives.'^ 



Note 16. — The average ration on the Nile was 10 lbs- of grain, 

 either beans or dhourra, the latter being preferred, as beans, 

 especially when given alone, cause diarrhoea. The fodder ration 

 was 10 lbs. of Tibben, i.e., bhoosa, bruised and broken straw 

 from which the grain has been trodden out. Green dhourra stalk 

 (cholum, jowari) was much liked, as also was Lujoiue stalk, 

 which was purchased when possible; of dry dhourra stalk only 

 the thin outer investment was taken (Burt). Queriple prefers as 

 rations 8 lbs. grain and 15 lbs. dry fodder. Feeding on grain alone 

 the same officer found to be a cause of indigestion and diarrhoea ; 

 barley does not agree with the constitution of the camel, and the 

 grain should always be crushed and split. Bennett draws atten- 

 tion to the necessity for a portable composition faediug cake for 

 camels, but points out that the animals would require to bo 



