NOTE-BOOK OF A NATURALIST. 109 



protects the breast. This operation is often accompanied 

 by a cry and a slight application of the wliip from the 

 trainer; and, by degrees, the animal learns at last to lie 

 down upon its belly with its legs doubled under it, at the 

 well-remembered cry and blow, accompanied by a jerk of 

 its halter. Having attained so much obedience, the 

 trainer proceeds to place a pack-saddle on the creature's 

 back. When it is accustomed to this appendage a light 

 load is put on, and gradually increased till it reaches the 

 maximum, which is generally understood to be fourteen 

 killogrammes, or above eight hundred pounds, for a full- 

 grown camel. 



Such is the mode practised at Pisa ; and though the 

 Moors brought the animal into Spain, Pisa appears to 

 be the only locality in Europe where the camel is now 

 bred. The arid plains and stunted vegetation at San 

 Possora seem to have pointed it out as the proper place 

 for this experiment ; but though success attends it, the 

 breed seems to dwindle. The foal is obliged to be held 

 up by attendants to take the maternal nourishment, 

 which in a state of nature the new-boni creature must be 

 in a condition to obtain without assistauce, or the con- 

 tinuation of the species must cease. And here it may be 

 observed, that we have no authentic account of the camel 

 in a genuine wild state. The earliest records, from the 

 sacred Scripture downwards, present it in a domesticated 

 state. When Joseph was cast by his brethren into the 

 pit, and the criminal fraternity sat down to eat bread, 

 they lifted up their eyes and looked, and behold a com- 

 pany of Ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels, 

 bearing spicery, and balm, and myrrh, going to carry it 

 down to Egyi^t. And yet in Egypt itself no trace appears 

 to have been observed on the multitudinous ancient 

 monuments of the form. It is, indeed, to be seen on the 

 frieze of the building at Ghirza, where it is introduced 

 four several times ; and, in one instance, a female drome- 



