308 THE CAMEL 



literally nothing to hinder a scheme of this kind being 

 carried out, with the formation of depots and schools of 

 instruction in England, Cyprus, Egypt, India, South 

 Africa, and Australia. We might very well learn a 

 wholesome lesson from the Germans, by copying their 

 etappen system in principle and spirit, but not in blind 

 imitation, as the conditions under which the two armies 

 fight are so diametrically opposite. The whole essence 

 of their system lying in the fact that during peace time 

 their transport train is only maintained to a modified 

 extent sufficient to meet ordinary requirements but 

 capable of extreme expansion at any moment, because 

 the nucleus is already there, while each train battalion 

 belonging to an army corps is nothing but a nursery or 

 training depot for young soldiers, who for six months 

 of their service are instructed thoroughly in all trans- 

 port duties before they are sent back to their homes. 

 Bactrian camels, and those from Afghanistan or any 

 such cold climate, would thrive just as well in a remount 

 depot in England as in the Zoo. What in the world 

 is there to prevent their introduction, and the forma- 

 tion of camel and mule transport ? Nothing, that I 

 can see. 



The sensation on seeing the great awkward beast, 

 with his long neck, big hump, gawky legs, and pro- 

 minent but beautiful eye swinging along the streets of 

 a garrison town might at first be strange, but it would 

 soon die away, and as with lions of the Stanley and 

 Cetewayo type, and other curiosities we would soon 

 become accustomed to him. Of what earthly use, ex- 

 cept perhaps in England, are those clumsy, lumbering 

 transport wagons and those great fine horses ? Those 



