182 THE CAMEL. 



economy of the camel requires it. None of the 

 passes of the Rocky Mountains are more rugged 

 or steeper than those of Arabia or Tartary, and 

 there is every probability, that all the known 

 routes between the Mississippi and the Pacific 

 coast, would prove entirely practicable to either 

 species of the camel. 



On alluvial and other soft soils, caravans using 

 the camel will no doubt be obliged to halt dur- 

 ing rains and until the ground is dry ; but this 

 is no more than the emigrant wagon-trains 

 across the plains are compelled to do under 

 similar circumstances ; and upon all other sur- 

 faces, one or the other of the species may be 

 used without regard to weather or to season. 



So far, then, as climate and soil are concerned, 

 it may be regarded as quite certain that the 

 Bactrian camel can sustain any exposure to 

 which he would be subjected in our trans- Mis- 

 sissippian territory ; and there is no reason to 

 doubt that the mezquit-acacia, and other shrubs, 

 and the saline plants known to exist in many of 

 those regions, would furnish him an appropriate 

 and acceptable nutriment. 



It is not impossible that some of our desert 

 plants attractive to the palate of the camel may 

 prove injurious to him ; but in this event, that 

 mysterious law of nature, whereby even animal 

 instincts accommodate themselves to new con- 



