192 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



"Be a sailor, doctor, or even a lawyer, but don't be a 

 camel-man." 



On camel No. 6 all the kitchen things are put, with 

 the kitchen tent, and the ayah's box : the latter evidently 

 the last straw. For the camel suddenly rises, overturns 

 his master, and shakes off his load, showering pots 

 and pans over his four companions and their drivers. 

 The ayah's box alone remains, seemingly tied to his back 

 by a hair ; and we watch its fate with breathless interest. 

 Finding himself free, the camel rushes at a loaded brother 

 and kicks him, sends another at a gallop down hill, bites 

 the nearest man, and finally starts off towards the jungle 

 with a howl of triumph. 



The ayah, with the courage of despair, flings herself 

 in his path, seizes his nose-rope, and brings him to a 

 standstill, thereby producing precisely the catastrophe she 

 has sought to avert. For the sudden halt loosens the hair, 

 and her box rolls heavily down the mountain scattering 

 her belongings on every side. 



When these are recovered and repacked, the camel is 

 persuaded to sit down again and his two forelegs tied 

 together. His hind legs are then fastened, and his master 

 stands on his head — the camel's I mean — and at last the 

 load is bound on and adjusted. This beast, I am informed, is 

 often " bobbery " when being loaded. The Hindustani word 

 is idiomatic, but seems to me to describe his behaviour mildly. 



