50 THE CAMEL 



If it means that the camel is ready to learn and easily 

 instructed, then I cannot answer with the same readi- 

 ness or certainty. For though on the one hand he is 

 very tractable and easily managed, on the other he 

 is not ready to learn, and not so easily instructed, be- 

 cause he is undoubtedly a slow, dense animal. What 

 this docility arises from it would be difficult to say, and 

 I (}oubt the deepest physiological research ever reveal- 

 ing or accounting for it. It may be that over-domes- 

 tication has been too much for the camel, or that, 

 backed up by his own retiring, unsympathetic nature, 

 he has developed this extreme density, the outcome of 

 which is blind docility ; but it is certainly not due to 

 instinctive intelligence. Docility to him, like everything 

 else, is a matter of course. 



He is soon taught to kneel down, rise up, and to 

 carry a load, but any task out of the common he is 

 slow to, if he will ever, learn it at all. He is essen- 

 A gre- tially a gregarious animal, and should be ridden or 

 animal 8 driven in couples. He shows a decided disinclina- 

 tion to part company from other camels, and at times 

 will absolutely refuse to do so ; and if beaten or bullied 

 will throw himself on his knees and display great 

 determination. If you do happen to leave a convoy to 

 go into the bush, as long as the convoy remains in 

 sight he will try his best to get back to it, for he hates 

 isolation a strange fact considering his coldness of 

 character. But should you lose sight of the convoy 

 he will meander along aimlessly, and never find his 

 way back by himself. Should you lose your way in 

 the desert, you would never tSink of trusting your 

 camel to find it, as you would your horse. 



