THE TAMING OF THE WILD 285 



may, of course, misjudge the creature, even 

 after long spells in its company, but even its 

 apparent cheerfulness in adversity seems to be 

 nothing more than stupid indifference, while 

 its treachery and ingratitude soon make them- 

 selves felt. 



Most camels are yellow in colour, of a hue 

 that is eminently protective in the desert. Now 

 and again, away from the cities, the traveller 

 may see a white one, but it is never for 

 sale. In early summer these animals lose the 

 heavier coat of hair, which shielded them 

 against the intense cold of winter nights, for 

 Nature looks well after the deer and camels, 

 and changes their winter and summer clothing 

 for them. 



The saddle camel, or mehari, is of superior 

 breed to the jemeel, or commoner baggage 

 animal. This tall, leggy animal, with the deep 

 chest, powerful shoulders, and muscular hind- 

 quarters, is the dromedary. Many people 

 seem to think that the word dromedary has 

 reference to the number of humps on the crea- 

 ture's back, but this is not the case. It is the 

 shaggy Bactrian camel of Central Asia that 

 carries two humps, and the Arabian, which is 

 the familiar kind from the plains of India to 

 the cornfields of Morocco, that has only one. 



The camel has been used in warfare from the 

 earliest times, and we read of it in the engage- 



