452 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



its favour as a beast of burden, where long tedious inarches are 

 necessary at all hours, either of day or night. Tins should be 

 carefully considered, as supporting my view that the march should 

 as much as possible be confined to daylight. 



All ruminants are quick feeders. An ox or camel will make a 

 snatch at a bunch of grass without halting, but quickly as it 

 passes it upon the march. In this way they arc always feeding, 

 even while they are moving, if either bushes or grass are present ; 

 they lose no time or op{>ortunity ; and the fact of this food excite- 

 ment in looking out for something to eat, whiles away the time, 

 and lessens the weariness of the journey. 



When night arrives, they have not only the enjoyment of rest 

 from the day's labour, but the intense happiness of ruminating. 

 Should the camel have had no supper, he can nevertheless munch 

 up his morning meals by ruminating until he sleeps. 



I sincerely trust that upon our next Oriental expedition, when 

 ever the services of camels may be required, some special and most 

 stringent arrangements will be made, that will throw the entire 

 responsibility for the transport service upon the shoulders of 

 officers who have not only knowledge, but a personal pride in the 

 condition of their animals. 



With native owners the loss is a mere nothing, as they are sure 

 to take the ordinary care to which these beasts have been accus- 

 tomed ; but if camels are left to the tender mercies of inexperienced 

 young officers and the British soldier, the wind may be tempered 

 to the shorn lamb, but nobody will take care of the camel's back. 



Camels differ in size as much as horses. I measured a riding 

 dromedary (hygeen) that belonged to Sheik Achmet Abou Sinn, of 

 the Shookerieah tribe ; this fine animal was 7 feet 2 inches per- 

 pendicular height from the hump to the ground. As a general 

 rule, the hygeens are not so powerfully proportioned as those which 

 carry baggage, and the Arabs are very particular in refusing to 

 place a heavy weight upon a choice animal, as they declare, with 

 good reason, that it would spoil the elasticity of its pace. 



A good hygeen is worth from 80 to 100 dollars in the Soudan, 

 while a powerful baggage camel can be purchased for 12 or 14. 



The female produces only one at a birth, but the calf is not 

 permitted to monopolise the mother's milk ; she is kept for the 

 daily supply of the proprietor, as our cows in Europe are managed 

 for the dairy. Camel's milk is richer and more nourishing than 

 that of any other animal, in the estimation of the Arabs. Barren 

 females are frequently killed for their flesh ; this is far superior to 

 any ordinary beef frpm the oxen of the Soudan. 



