170- THE STORY OF THE CAMEL. 



Considered as a direct auxiliary of man in war, the dromedary may in 

 many cases advantageously replace the horse. That the ancients employed it 

 in war is a fact attested alike by monuments and writers. 



Owing to its many services, the pagan Arabs held the dromedary camel 

 in such veneration that they consecrated to the gods three females, which 

 were exempted from labor, and the cream of whose milk was used for liba- 

 tions. 



The pack-saddle of the camel consists of a cushion of cloth filled with 

 fibres of the date-tree. The ends of this cushion are doubled together and 

 form- the inner part of the pack-saddle. Above this are placed two props or 

 wooden angles, fastened together by two sticks of equal size made fast by 

 means of small cords. The hump of the camel conies between the two 

 branches of the pack-saddle. Two large bags usually constitute the load of 

 a camel. They are suspended to the crosspieces which fasten the reins. The 

 camel carries only a simple bridle attached tO' a headstall ornamented with 

 tassels, little shells or glass ornaments, and surmounted by a bouquet of cock 

 or ostrich feathers. The leader of the file carries, beside, around his neck, a 

 little bell, the monotonous sound of which encourages the band and distin- 

 guishes it from other parties. 



The camel is made to kneel during the process of loading or unloading. 

 In order to force him into this position they bear upon his halter, crying 

 "Klia ! kha !'* The animal exhibits more or less docility, though he never 

 obeys without giving vent to groans either pitiful or enraged, by which, as 

 also by certain movements of the head, he shows that he suffers, that he is 

 sufficiently loaded, or that he dreads the fatigue of the journey. When they 

 are traveling in caravans these cries, repeated every morning by each camel, 

 indicate the moment of departure. The animal is retained in the position 

 requisite for loading by doubling one of the front legs together and tying 

 it at the knee, as it could still rise on three legs; refractory animals are fas- 

 tened thus by two legs. The camel makes four sudden jerks in sitting,' which 

 he does by elevating his hind-quarters first, thus putting his rider or burden 

 in an angle of forty degrees. Great caution, then, is requisite to prevent a 

 dangerous fall. Only a quarter of an hour is required for loading, when the 

 camel rises slowly and commences his journey. The driver, walking behind 

 or at his side, urges him forward by crying, *'Da! da!" When it becomes 

 requisite to turn the animal to the right or left, it is done by pulling his tail 

 in the opposite direction, and he obeys the movements as a vessel does the 

 action of the rudder. 



