i^flpular SJtcttmiarj) of ^ni'matca Mature. 99 



cells supported by the spines of the dorsal 

 vertebrae, and forming what are called the 

 humps. When the Camel is in a region of 

 fertility, the hump becomes plump and ex- 



panded; but after a protracted journey in 

 the wilderness it becomes shrivelled and \ 

 reduced to its ligamentous constituent, in ! 

 consequence of the absorption of the fat. ; 

 Buffon carried his teleological reasoning, or 

 the ascription of design, so far as to assert ' 

 that the humps on the backs of the Camel 

 were badges of slavery, and intended to I 

 adapt them to the burthens of their task- 

 masters ; and he supported this ingenious 

 idea by the unfounded assertion that the 

 dorsal prominences did not belong to the 

 Camels in free nature. But the true uses of 

 : , the fatty humps, as of the water-cells, relate 

 I i to the exigencies of the Camelidm of the 

 deserts under every condition." 



Possessing strength and activity surpassing 

 that of most beasts of burthen, docile, patient 

 of hunger and thirst, and contented with 

 small quantities of the coarsest provender, 

 the Camel is one of the most valuable gifts 

 of Providence. There is nothing, however, 

 in the external appearance of the animal to 

 indicate the existence of any of its excellent 

 qualities. In form and proportions, it is 

 very opposite to our usual ideas of perfection 

 and beauty. A stout body, haviug the 

 back disfigured by one or two humps; limbs 

 long, slender, and seemingly too weak to 

 support the trunk ; a long, thin, crooked 

 neck, surmounted by a heavily-proportioned 

 head,, are all ill suited to produce favourable 

 impressions. Nevertheless, there is no crea- 

 ture more excellently adapted to its situ- 



ation, nor is there one in which more of 

 creative wisdom is displayed in the pecu- 

 liarities of its organization. To the Arabs 

 and other wanderers of the desert, the Camel 

 is at once wealth, subsistence, and protection. 

 The milk furnishes them with a large part 

 of their nutriment. The flesh of the young 

 animal is one of their greatest luxuries ; of 

 the skins they form tents, or manufacture 

 them into saddles, harness, pitchers, shields, 

 and many other articles ; the various sorts 

 of hair, or wool, shed by the Camel, are 

 wrought into different fabrics; and its very 

 excrements serve as fuel, or are applied to 

 other useful purposes. 



These animals are trained, when extremely 

 young, to the labours which they are after- 

 wards to perform: and with this view, when 

 but a few days old, their limbs are folded 

 under their body, and they are compelled to 

 remain on the g'round whilst they are loaded 

 with a weight, which is gradually increased 

 as they increase, in strength. The pace of 

 the Camel is a high and swinging trot, which, 

 to persons unaccustomed to it, is at first 

 disagreeable and apparently dangerous, but 

 is afterwards tolerably pleasant and secure. 

 The Arabians in general ride on a saddle 

 that is hollowed in the middle, and has at 

 each bow a piece of wood placed upright, or 

 sometimes horizontally, by which the rider 

 keeps himself in the seat- and the animal is 

 guided, or stopped, by means of a cord that 

 serves as a bridle, and is affixed to a ring 

 which is passed through his nostrils. Small 

 Camels carry from 600 to 800 Ibs. i the 

 largest and strongest bear 1000 Ibs. or up- 

 wards from thirty to thirty-five miles a 

 day ; but those which are used for speed 

 alone are capable of travelling from sixty to 

 ninety miles a-day. When a caravan of 

 Camels arrives at a resting or baiting place, 

 they kneel, and, the cords sustaining the 

 load being untied, the bales slip down on 

 each side. They generally sleep on their 

 bellies, crouching between the bales they 

 have carried ; the load is, therefore, replaced 

 with great facility. In an abundant pasture 

 they generally browse as much in an hour 

 as serves them for ruminating all night and 

 for their support during the next day. But 

 it is uncommon to find such pasturage, and 

 they are said to prefer nettles, thistles, cassia, 

 and other prickly vegetables, to the softest 

 herbage. 



The female goes with young twelve 

 months, and brings forth one at a birth. 

 Her milk is very rich, abundant, and thick, 

 but of rather a strong taste; though when 

 mixed with water it forms a very nutritive 

 article of diet. Breeding and milk-giving 

 Camels are exempted from service, and fed 

 as well as possible, the value of their milk 

 being greater than that of their labour. 

 The young Camel usually sucks for twelve 

 months; but such as are intended for speed 

 are allowed to suck, and exempted from re- 

 straint, for two or three years. The Camel 

 arrives at maturity in about five years, and 

 the duration of its life is from forty to fifty 

 years. 



There are several races or varieties both 

 of the Arabian and the Bactrian Camel, 



K 2 



