THE CAMEL. 45 



THE CAMEL. 



THE original name of this animal has passed into most languages?, 

 ancient and modern. In Hebrew it is called Gemel, from the verb 

 to repay, requite ; probably on account of its revengeful disposition, 

 ' A camel's anger,' is an Arabian proverb for an irreconcileable en- 

 mity. There is no animal which remembers an injury longer, nor 

 seizes with greater keenness the proper opportunity of revenge ; 

 which is the more remarkable on account of its gentle and docib 

 disposition, when unprovoked by harsh treatment. 



From the Scriptures we learn that the camel constituted an im- 

 portant branch of patriarchal wealth. Job had at first three thou- 

 sand, and after the days of his adversity had passed away six thou- 

 sand camels. The Arabians estimate their riches and possessions 

 by the number of their camels ; and speaking of the splendor and 

 wealth of a noble, or prince, they observe, he has so many camels j 

 not so many pieces of gold. The Midianites and Amalekites had 

 camels without number, as the sand upon the seashore ; many of 

 which were adorned with chains of gold, and other rich and splen- 

 did ornaments, Judges vii. 12. So great was the importance attached 

 to the management and propagation of camels, that a particular 

 officer was appointed in the reign of David, to superintend their 

 keepers. Nor is it without a special design, that the inspired writer 

 mentions the descent of the person appointed ; he was an Jshmaek 

 jte, and therefore supposed to be thoroughly skilled in the treatment 

 of that useful quadruped, 



