16 THE CAMEL 



resultihg in modern firearms. At first detachments 

 of 100 men only were mounted on camels, increased 

 subsequently to battalions of 700, formed into flying 

 infantry columns, the camels being also employed, 

 when the necessity arose, for transport purposes a 

 twofold use which Sir Charles Napier also adopted on 

 occasions when campaigning in the Murree and Bugti 

 Hills. 

 The The French, who undertook the conquest of Algeria 



French in 



Algeria in 1830, after thirty years' experience of trials and 

 failures, chiefly conducted on the hire system, aban- 

 doned this temporary transport, and established a per- 

 manent camel train at the maintenance of the State as 

 the only way out of their difficulties, and as the only 

 sound principle to work on. It will be seen that they 

 did not come to this conclusion in a hurry, but after 

 various attempts on active service against the Arabs, 

 and it would be well for us to learn a lesson from them. 

 However, more of this hereafter. In connection with 

 this train they have established a stud farm, and the 

 breeding has been attended with great success. 



The Russians also utilise the camel in their steppe 

 campaigns in Central Asia, but I do not think we have 

 anything to learn from them. Not many years ago a 

 general officer on the Eussian staff visited Algeria, 

 inspected the French system of transport, and wrote a 

 eulogistic report on it ; but whether the Russian autho- 

 rities have since adopted the French system or not, I 

 cannot with any certainty say. 



India The camel has been known to us certainly since 



the days when Clive decided the fate of India on the 

 plains of Plassey (1757), and even prior to that event, 



