The Badrian Camel. 169 



are these : He has two large and hard bunches on his 

 back, and is destitute of horns ; the upper lip is divided 

 like that of the hare ; and the hoofs small and placed 

 at the end of two long toes, which are united below by 

 a pad-like sole. But the peculiar and distinguishing 

 characteristic of the Camel is its faculty of abstaining 

 from water for a greater length of time than any other 

 animal ; for which nature has made a wonderful provi- 

 sion, by adapting the surface of one of the four stomachs, 

 which it has in common with all ruminating animals, to 

 serve as a reservoir for water, where it remains without 

 corrupting or mixing with the other aliments. By this sin- 

 gular structure it can take a prodigious quantity of water 

 at one draught, and is enabled to pass as much as fifteen 

 days without drinking again. But besides this reservoir 

 of water the animal is said in cases of emergency to draw 

 sustenance from the humps on his back, which are of a 

 fatty substance : thus, after long privation, they become 

 absorbed. A large Camel is capable of carrying ten or 

 even twelve hundredweight, and, like the elephant, is 

 tame and tractable ; but, like him, he has his periodical 

 fits of rage, and at these times has been known to take 

 up a man in his teeth, throw him on the ground, and 

 trample him under his feet. Like the horse, he gives 

 security to his rider ; and, like the cow, he furnishes his 

 owner with meat for his table, and the female with milk 

 for his drink. The flesh of the young Camel is esteemed 

 a delicacy, and the milk of the female, diluted in water, 

 is the common drink of the Arabians. The hair or fleece, 

 which falls off entirely in the spring, is superior to that 

 of any other domestic animal, and is made into very fine 

 stuffs, for clothes, coverings, tents, and other furniture. 

 The female goes one year with young, and produces but 

 one at a time. The Camel kneels to receive his burthen, 

 and it is said that he refuses to rise if his master imposes 

 upon him a weight above his strength. He has callosities 

 m his knees and on his breast, which prevent him from 

 being hurt by kneeling to take up his load ; and sleeps 

 with his knees bent under him, and his breast on the 

 ground. He arrives at maturity in about five years, and 

 the duration of his life is from forty to fii'ty years. 



