FEEDING 157 



means give them a few pounds of grain daily, to put 

 strength into them. I doubt, however, if oats, for the 

 same reason as barley, are particularly suitable for 

 camels. 



In Arabia and in North Africa the natives are in the Native 

 habit of crushing barley and dates, mixing them with a 

 little camel's milk or water, and making them into small 

 balls or cakes, which they give to their riding camels 

 during and after a long hard ride. In India, and 

 especially in the Panjab, barley flour is mixed with the 

 melted fat of the Doomba sheep, in the proportion of 

 three parts of flour to one of fat ; also coarse wheat 

 flour mixed with ghee (clarified butter), or with goor 

 (coarse brown sugar) and ghee (in the same proportion), 

 and made into balls, but given to animals in emergent 

 cases only. The natives consider all three kinds very 

 nourishing and more than equal to double the quantity 

 of grain. I have heard it asserted that grain steeped 

 in water is good for camels ; but where, when, and how 

 is it to be done on service, unless by the wave of a 

 magic wand you could sink wells or cause rivers to 

 flow in the desert ? 



Personally, I consider dry grain to be better, as the Compari- 

 camel does not in the natural state of things, unless he tween dry 



1 T -. . , -, -. . . and soak- 



is aged and his molars are decayed, require any arti- e d grain 

 ficial aid in the mastication of his food, his teeth being 

 well fitted to crush, and his stomach being fully qualified 

 to masticate it thoroughly, while the slime generated in 

 the mouth materially assists it. If good grazing is pro- Aitema- 

 curable, 3 or 4 Ib. a day of grain is ample ; if indif- tlve 

 ferent, increase it to 6 Ib. ; should none be available, 

 from 6 to 8 Ib., but, if possible, do not exceed six, and 



