8 A HISTORY OF 



serves as A more permanent nourishment. As these animal have 

 often gone the same track, they are said to know their way precisely, 

 and to pursue their passage when their guides are utterly astray ; when 

 they come within a few miles of their baiting-place, in the evening, 

 they sagaciously scent it at a distance, and increasing their speed, are 

 often seen to trot with vivacity to their stage. 



The patience of this animal is most extraordinary; and it is pro- 

 bable, that its sufferings are great, for when it is loaded, it sends lorth 

 most lamentable cries, but never offers to resist the tyrant that op- 

 presses it. At the slightest sign, it bends 'is knees and lies upon its 

 belly, suffering itself to be loaded in this position ; by this practice 

 the burden is more easily laid upon it, than if lifted up while stand- 

 ing ; at another sign it rises with its load, and the driver getting upon 

 its back, between the two panniers, which, like hampers, are placed 

 upon each side, he encourages the camel to proceed with his voice 

 and with a song. In this manner the creature proceeds contentedly 

 forward, with a slow uneasy walk, of about four miles an hour, and 

 when it comes to its stage, lies down to be unloaded as before.* 



Mr. Buffon seems to consider the camel to be the most domestic of 

 all other creatures, and to have more marks of the tyranny of man 

 imprinted on its form. He is of opinion, that this animal is not now 

 to be found in a state of nature ; that the humps on its back, the 

 callosities upon its breast and its legs, and even the great reservoir 

 for water, are all marks of long servitude and domestic constraint. 

 The deformities he supposes to be perpetuated by generation ; and 

 what at first was accident, at last becomes nature. However this be, 

 the hamps upon the back grow large in proportion as the animal is 

 well fed, and if examined, they will be found composed of a sub- 

 stance not unlike the udder of a cow. 



The inhabitants generally leave but one male to wait on ten fe- 

 males, the rest they castrate ; and though they thus become weaKer, 

 they are more manageable and patient. The female receives the 

 male in the same position as when these animals are loaded ; she goes 

 with young for about a year, and like all other great animals, produces 

 but one at a time. The camel's milk is abundant and nourishing, and 

 mixed with water makes a principal part of the beverage of the Ara- 

 bians. These animals begin to engender at three years of age, and 

 they ordinarily live from forty to fifty years. The genital part of the 

 male resembles that of the bull, but is placed pointing backwards, so 

 that its urine seems to be ejected in the manner of the female. This, 

 as well as the dung, and almost every part of this animal, is converted 

 to some useful purpose by the keepers. Of the urine, sal ammoniac 

 is made ; of the dung, litter for the horses, and fire for the purpose ol 

 dressing their victuals. Thus, this animal alone seems to comprise 

 within itself a variety of qualities, any one of which serves to render 

 ther quadrupeds absolutely necessary for the welfare of man ; like 



Mr. Sonnini says, he has sometimes seen them weary of the impatience of their riders. 

 top short, turn round their long necks to bite them, and utter cries of rage. In these cir 

 eumitancen the man must be careful not to alight, as he would infallibly be torn to piece* 

 H mtat a,so refrain from striking hi beast, as that would but increase his fury. 



