THE CAMEL 377 



perhaps shows intelligence in an undesirable direction, as 

 evidenced in the following incident : 



A Camel, working in an oil-mill, was beaten by the 

 driver. For several months the animal gave no sign that it 

 bore ill-will for the punishment. One moonlight night the 

 man, while sleeping in an unaccustomed spot, awoke in 

 time to perceive the animal steal softly to a heap of clothes 

 that bore some resemblance to his own sleeping figure. 

 With the greatest fury the Camel threw itself upon them, 

 rolling with all its weight and tearing them to rags with its 

 teeth. When it had completed its work of destruction the 

 driver spoke to the animal, and such was its chagrin at the 

 failure of its purpose that, in a fit of uncontrollable rage, it 

 dashed its head against the wall and died on the spot. 



Riding a Camel is an unpleasant and even painful process 

 for a beginner. The action of the animal as it first gains 

 its feet is singularly discomposing. The saddle has two 

 upright wooden horns, between which the rider sits. When 

 he is seated and the Camel released, the animal suddenly 

 plunges upwards with its forequarters, so as to place its feet 

 on the ground. Almost before the rider has recovered from 

 the shock, the hindquarters are elevated with similar quick- 

 ness, so that a novice has all the breath knocked out of him 

 by alternate contact with the two horns. And then comes 

 the monotonous back-breaking jolt as the Camel swings 

 along on the two legs of one side at a time, not adding 

 to the comfort of the inexperienced rider by its habit of 

 snatching at intervals at any tempting thorn or green 

 branch in its path. The Camel is not bitted, but guided 

 by a string attached to a noose fitted tightly round the nose. 

 To say it is guided is a mere figure of speech, for it is 

 difficult to direct the animal in any way except that which 

 it proposes to follow. 



The Camel is to the Arab what the reindeer is to the 

 Eskimo. Not only does he use it for burden, but he feeds 

 almost wholly on the thick, rich milk, mixed with meal ; the 

 tents in which he lives, and the great mantle, or burnous, 

 which he wears such as was worn by Elijah, and be- 

 queathed to Elisha are made of the Camel's hair, of which 

 it is despoiled annually. The skin is valuable for many 



