THE CAMEL. 289 



and they are left in peace for the night. In very hot weather they do 

 not graze during the hotte:.t part of the day, but should be left 

 un iisturbed on the grazing ground, where they will seek what shelter 

 is to be had, and chew the cud. 



Watering. 



Waiiring.—ln this matter we are confronted with the traditional Watering, 

 idea that camels require watering at very infrequent intervals, and that 

 it is indeed a good thing to accustom them to go without water for long 

 periods. This belief rests on some foundation of fact, in that i\\i camel 

 can, and in some regions has to, go without water for several days on 

 end. Some can subsist and work for as long as ten days in this manner, 

 and Somali camels, which are most tolerant in this partxular, are said to 

 have gone even longer. This ability to go without water is a feature 

 which the camel has in common with some other ruminants, but 

 it cannot be argued from this that, under the conditions of war 

 which we impose on the animal, infrequent watering should be made a 

 rule. As a matter of fact, the more work you ask the camel to do the more 

 water he requires. The conditions of service are totally different to, and 

 much harder than, the normal work of the animal. The loads are, 

 generally speaking, heavy, the marches long and often hurried, the 

 opportunities for rest and grazing limited, and the general wear and tear 

 increased. Under the circumstances, the baggage camel requires more 

 water and more frequent watering on service than at any time. 



Different breeds of camels vary widely as to their requirements, 

 and in their capability of enduring thirst. The big Delta camel of 

 Egypt requires a copious drink every day, whereas the Somali camel 

 does very well if he finds water every fourth day, and the question of 

 selecting animals for the work in hand is again a consideration. 



It has been said that if a desert camel is frequently watered he loses 

 his power of abstinence for lon,-,-^ periods. This power has now been 

 acquired by generations of training, and might be lost in the same way, 

 but the conditions under which we use the camel are those which 

 demand harder work than he has ever previously performed with 

 probably less food, and certainly less rest than he is accustomed to. 

 Under these conditions, even the native owner waters him frequently, 

 and on service that is the rule to follow. 



Camels should be watered every day on service, if water is to 

 be had. 



(B 10948) T 



