282 THE WILDERNESS AND JUNGLE 



are called for more frequently than in happier 

 lands. Kismet is the Arab's creed, and 

 it is written on the face of the camel. I 

 imagine that there are happy camels, but I 

 never saw one show any pleasure on its face. 

 Those who have camped for weeks with the 

 camel and its driver are struck by the strong 

 resemblance between the two. Was it St. 

 Augustine who said that we are all God's 

 beasts ? At any rate, the camel answers the 

 description in more senses than one. When 

 travelling with a camel caravan, I have en- 

 deavoured to show the brutes kindness and 

 consideration. I have insisted on the men 

 loading and driving them more gently than 

 is their wont. I have seen that they got their 

 evening barley before going to my tent to dine. 

 I have even attempted overtures, such as 

 patting their shaggy necks. It would be quite 

 as satisfactory, for all the response they make 

 to such caresses, to pat the tyre of a motor 

 bicycle, and much less risky. Admirers of the 

 animal say that its dirty habits and treacherous 

 nature in Morocco are the fault of its Arab 

 taskmasters. Yet, though the Moor often treats 

 his camel brutally, I understand from Major 

 Baden -Powell that even the well-cared-for 

 regimental camel, of which he had consider- 

 able experience in the Egyptian campaign, 

 is no better. In parts of Asia, it is true, a 



