CAMEL. 117 



but his broad hoofs are perfectly calculated fof tra- 

 velling on the dry and parched sands of Arabia. But 

 the peculiar and distinguished characteristic of the 

 camel is its faculty of abstaining from water longer 

 than any other animal, a property so necessary in 

 those immense deserts. For this, Nature has wonder- 

 fully provided, by a singular internal conformation ; 

 for, besides the four stomachs, which he has in com- 

 mon with other ruminating animals, he is also fur- 

 nished with a fifth bag, that serves as a reservoir for 

 water, where it remains uncorrupted, and without 

 mixing with the other aliments. When the camel is 

 pressed with thirst, or has need of water to moisten 

 his aliment, in chewing the cud, he draws up into the 

 stomach, or even into the throat, a part of this reserve. 

 Furnished with so capacious and so convenient a re- 

 ceptacle, he can take a prodigious quantity of water 

 at once, and remain many days without drinking. 



Among all the forms of animal life, which Nature 

 in her immense variety exhibits, there is none that 

 more conspicuously displays the justness of design, 

 and perfect adaptation to the circumstances of its ex- 

 istence, and to the service of man, than the rein-deer 

 and the camel ; without the former, life could no^ be 

 supported among the snowy mountains and frozen 

 bogs of Lapland, and without the latter, the sandy 

 deserts of Arabia would be impassable. Few attempts 

 have been made, to transplant the rein-deer into more 

 temperate regions ; but of hese few none have yet 

 succeeded : frequent trials have been made, to intro- 

 duce the camel into other countries, but without effect. 

 Though a native of a warm ciimiite, the camel is no$ 

 found in the tropical regions : it cannot subsist and 

 propagate, cither in tho -".ideating heat of the torrid, 

 or the milder air of lie --cmperatc zone. The rein- 

 deer is confined to the hyperborean climates, and 

 seems incapable of subsisting under a more genial 

 sky. Bi.tu the one and the oilier appear evidently 

 designed by Providence for thvj service and solace of 

 man, in those countries where no other animals are 

 qualified to supersede their utility. 



