100 THE CAMEL 



he would have been right, for, as I have just pointed out r 

 there is not only a distinction with a difference between 

 the two terms, but a distinct difference, which has been 

 misinterpreted during the Christian era at all events. 



It must be borne in mind, however, that all one- 

 humped camels are not necessarily dromedaries ; on the 

 contrary, the proportion of baggage to riding prepon- 

 derates in favour of the former ; whereas I am within 

 bounds, I think, when I say that, as a rule, all two- 

 humped camels are beasts of burden, they being of a 

 heavier and clumsier build, conducive to strength and 

 not to speed. There are, however, exceptions, few and 

 far between, and it would appear that there is a swift 

 breed of Bactrian which is in request in China ; and I 

 have read that the Chinese have a peculiar breed which 

 is very swift, and which they call ' Fongkyo Fo,' or 

 c camel with feet of the wind,' presumably of the Bac- 

 trian species, as I am not aware of the existence of the 

 Arabian in those parts ; but this, I must admit, is the 

 only case I have ever heard of. 



Class dis- While on this point I wish particularly to establish 

 beyond all doubt the fact that there are, moreover, dis- 

 tinctly two classes viz. the riding, called in Egypt and 

 Arabia 'Hageen,' and in India 'Sawari'; and the 

 baggage, known as ' Gamal ' and ' Unt ' respectively in 

 Egypt and India, and commonly called ' baggager,' to 

 use a transport phrase. And these two classes are, 

 be it remembered, quite as distinct as the racer is in 

 comparison to the carriage-horse, or as the hunter is to 

 the cart-horse. They belong to the same species un- 

 doubtedly, but to a totally different class and breed, 

 the one being a riding animal pure and simple, and 



