376 HOOFED ANIMALS 



and in agricultural labour such as ploughing and harrow- 

 ing, it is as a beast of burden that it renders inestimable 

 service. The internal trade of desert countries would be 

 impossible without this ' ship of the desert.' In North 

 Africa, for example, caravans of Camels, sometimes to the 

 number of a thousand, regularly cross the terrible ocean of 

 sand, the great Sahara, to and from the coast regions ; or 

 traverse the burning wastes of Arabia just as at the time 

 when Joseph was sold to ' a company of Ishmaelites from 

 Gilead with their camels, bearing spicery and balm and 

 myrrh, going to carry it down into Egypt.' Caravan Camels 

 are those of the largest kind. With only a single feed of 

 beans during the day, or a handful of dates or small balls 

 of barley meal, with perhaps occasionally the dry and thorny 

 plants found at some points in the desert routes, the animal 

 forges along without exhaustion or even the desire for 

 better fare. 



Nor is the Camel of less importance to the wandering 

 Arab than he is to the merchant. He loads it with his 

 tents, his wealth, and his family, and traverses the ever- 

 moving sands from one oasis to another. An astonishing 

 load can be piled upon a Camel bales on the back, 

 panniers at the sides, or children in a bag on one side, 

 a young camel in a bag or net on the other. A mixed 

 collection of merchandise, waterskins, and cooking utensils, 

 all are carried with submissive docility. 



Notwithstanding its extreme usefulness the Camel is one 

 of the least intelligent of animals. Unlike most mammals, 

 it has no instinctive notion of swimming ; it has the greatest 

 possible aversion to water ; and when fording a river under 

 compulsion, should it happen to lose its footing, it will 

 simply roll over and allow itself to drown. It is, too, quite 

 devoid of sympathy, and never comes to an understanding 

 with its master, such as a dog or a horse naturally acquires. 

 Patience it may possess, but it is the patience of stupidity, 

 and there is no knowing when the animal will not change 

 it for an unmovable obstinacy and an exhibition of a most 

 vicious temper, to which the bitten arm or shoulder of a 

 driver often bears painful testimony. Its revengeful dis- 

 position is always a positive danger, and in this respect it 



