180 THE CAMEL 



leaving camp. In fact, no animal should be allowed to 

 leave the ground until its load is properly adjusted, and 

 as each section is loaded up the conductor in charge 

 ought to file his animals past the officer commanding 

 the company, so that all mistakes can be rectified before 

 a convoy starts. 

 inspection The system of inspection after starting is not a good 



after start- ..... .1-1 



ing a mis- one, because conductors and drivers, once on the road, 

 generally shove on as fast as they can ; and the latter, 

 regardless of consequences, . thoughtful only of them- 

 selves, and utterly improvident of the animals, will give 

 you the slip and push on, oblivious of loads and 

 animals, nor will they attempt to remedy matters 

 until either the former falls off or the latter falls down. 

 Besides, once camels get on the move, it is wiser to let 

 them keep moving; and there is greater economy of 

 time, and a greater certainty of good work, in the way 

 that I have suggested. Such at least was my experi- 

 ence. 



what to Should a load become disarranged on the march, do 



in cas? of n ot wa it until it inflicts a bruise on the animal, or until 



f ^ comes off, as is the general way with drivers ; or if it 

 the march -^^ g Q j. i oose an( j j s shifting about, do not try and fix it 

 up wjiile the animal is moving, by tightening a rope, or 

 by shoving the load up or down, or moving it back- 

 wards and forwards. This is sheer waste of time and 

 labour. Take the camel out of the line or drove at 

 once, so as not to impede or check the progress of the 

 remainder, and have the load taken off and readjusted 

 once and for all. It is very curious how a load 

 which has been faultily put on at the start will keep 

 coming off constantly during the march, causing 



