162 THE CAMEL 



in the luxury of a mutual and friendly scratch. Do 

 just what they like, in fact, and feel in their own dense 

 way that even their life is not altogether made up of 

 hard knocks and blows and brutal drivers. 

 Beiaxa- It is this utter relaxation which, even when there is 



no grazing, exercises a markedly beneficial effect on 

 camels a natural tonic which should be a part and 

 parcel of their daily routine, and the total absence 

 of which has an equally opposite and deleterious result, 

 that accounts for the enormous percentage of sick, as 

 well as the terrific death rate, among our camels on 

 service. Too much stress cannot be laid on this vitally 

 if grazing important point. If natural food is very plentiful, by 

 cabiewhat all means make the drivers cut sufficient for the night's 

 8 consumption, but never on any account for the day, 

 because, for the reasons above given, it is infinitely 

 better when halting to turn all camels out of camp to 

 graze and rest, in preference to keeping them in. And 

 if let alone they will get far more food and rest in this 

 way, besides the advantages of freshness and choice ; 

 but a certain amount of quiet supervision is necessary to 

 guard against the latter being indiscriminate and unwise. 

 In a campaign like the Mle, in which the line of 

 communication was of unusual length, and passing as 

 it did through a barren country, deficient in supplies 

 and without natural resources, grazing was a most 

 precarious means of subsistence. In such cases it 

 should be supplemented by rations, though the 

 enormous transport difficulties which supervene make 

 it a question of extreme difficulty. Where, however, 

 grazing is good it ought to be systematically carried 

 out, except during an operation of exceptional danger, 



