136 THE CAMEL 



positive that, when water is available, camels working 

 regularly and steadily in a dry hot climate should be 

 watered daily ; and, as a rule, in the Nubian and 

 Soudan deserts, even in winter, the sun is powerful. 

 Experi- I have tried all sorts of experiments when in charge 



theories of transport and in command of camel corps. I have 

 watered camels once every day, and found that they 

 always drank a small quantity, about four to five 

 gallons. On alternate days they drank from five to 

 six gallons. Every third day, especially with baggagers, 

 I had a certain amount of difficulty in restraining them 

 from getting at the water, which they rushed at only 

 too eagerly. I am now speaking of the Soudan, when 

 the weather was exceptionally dry and hot. On these 

 occasions, which occurred on the march, carrying good 

 average loads, they drank at a rough approximation at 

 least ten gallons apiece. Some people have a theory, 

 which I have also put into execution, that the camel 

 only requires water every second day, ordinarily. speak- 

 ing, and that previous to a long march he should not 

 be watered for three days, and then before starting 

 allowed to drink to repletion. This latter portion of 

 the theory is folly. After three days' abstinence he 

 should not be permitted to drink much, say, not more 

 than three or four gallons. Then send him to graze for 

 a few hours, give him a feed of grain if you have it, 

 and a few hours subsequent to this he may drink his 

 fill ; but whether on the march, or preparatory to one, 

 it is fatal to let the camel drink on an empty stomach. 

 He invariably over-drinks himself, gets off his feed, is 

 shoved on and on, march, march, march, as if he was 

 a cast-iron machine, consequently never recovers the 



