DEFECTS 



When buying them, the Somali first look at the 

 hump to see if it is large and firm. If this is the 

 case, the camel is in good condition. They next 

 examine the back and the withers to see if there are 

 any old saddle sores. If so, they are generally 

 rejected, as, unless they are completely healed, they 

 soon ulcerate when the camel is worked, and cause 

 endless trouble. They also look at the inside of the 

 front leg. If there is any swelling there, between the 

 shoulder and the pectoral callosity, they will also 

 reject the animal, for, when hard worked, such a 

 camel will develop a large wound which is incurable, 

 and renders the animal useless. This defect is said 

 to be caused by improper training and by the use 

 of heavy loads when the camel is young and inex- 

 perienced. Few Europeans, however, have sufficient 

 knowledge to be good judges of a camel, and their 

 purchase is generally best left to a trusted native. I 

 found it a good plan to give my headman a commis- 

 sion (in inverse proportion to the price he paid) 

 for each animal bought ; that is to say, the cheaper 

 he procured them the higher was his commission, 

 and this method answered admirably. 



I have already referred to the kindness and con- 

 sideration shown by the Somali to their camels, and 

 also to the songs and refrains employed when loading 

 and unloading them.^ 



But to us the camel appears to be an unsympathetic 



and ungracious beast. There is an Arab proverb 



which says, " The camel curses its parents when it 



has to go uphill, and its Maker when it goes down," 



and this admirably sums up their invincible discontent, 



which is one of their most marked characteristics. 



1 See Chapter XIII, p. 154. 

 276 



