A-RABIAN CAMEL OR DROMEDARY. 107 



mels laden with salt from the borders of the great 

 desert. " They were preceded by a party of twenty 

 Tauriac merchants, whose appearance was grand and 

 imposing. They entered at full trot, riding on hand- 

 some camels, some of them red and white, and others 

 black and white. All the party were dressed exact- 

 ly alike. They wore black cotton robes and trowsers, 

 and white caps, with black turbans, which hid every 

 part of the face except the nose and eyes. In tbeir 

 right hand they held a long and light polished spear 

 whilst the left was occupied in holding their shield-, 

 and retaining the reins of their camels. Their shields 

 were made of white leather, with a piece of silver in 

 the centre. As they passed me,, their spears glittering 

 in the sun, and their whole bearing bold and warlike, 

 they had a novel and singular effect, which delighted 

 me. They stopped suddenly before the residence 

 of the chief, and all of them exclaiming ' Choir,' 

 each of the camels dropped on its knees, as if by 

 instinct, whilst the riders dismounted to pay their 

 respects."* 



The variety to which the name of Dromedary 

 properly belongs, with the weight of a man only, 

 can perform very lengthened journeys, and at a very 

 quick pace. Several of these attend the caravans 

 when crossing any of the African deserts, performing 

 the offices of scouts, and keeping a look-out both for 

 danger from the wandering tribes, and for the ap- 



Clapperton's Second Expedition, p. 266. 



