328 THE CAMEL 



certainly not. Two successive journeys would be their 

 limit, and then with a heavy loss. 



Daily aver- I know that in Mashonaland in 1890-91 the aver- 

 age of 

 oxen age rate all through for wagons, coming either from the 



Transvaal or from Bechuanaland to Salisbury, was ten 

 miles a day. Of course there were certain exceptions, 

 under the most favourable conditions of forage and 

 water, and with light loads ; but in most cases it was as 

 I have said, the oxen only being fit to return empty, 

 while in others they were so completely knocked up 

 that they had to be rested for long periods. The death 

 rate too, from various causes, was very high ; while, in 

 proper hands, the mortality among camels would be 

 very small. 



Carriage The carriage of heavy and bulky goods say, ma- 



buiky avy chinery would necessitate the use of wagons. But 



here, again, do not forget that the camel can be, and is, 



used for draught purposes, and he can draw just twice 



as much as a bullock, so that eight camels will do the 



work of sixteen oxen. 



Number of Taking into consideration the question of attendants, 



attendants . . 



the advantage is m favour of the latter animal. But 

 not so very much. Sixteen camels can be looked 

 after by two men, but for loading purposes two more 

 are necessary. The proportion of attendants to an 

 increase of animals would, however, be in inverse ratio ; 

 or, in plainer language, on increasing the number of 

 animals, an equal increase of drivers would not be 

 necessary, 6 men being sufficient for 32 camels, 10 for 

 64, 20 for 128, &c. That these drivers should be of 

 the best class I need not add after what I have said in 

 chapter xii. Naturally enough, to induce such men to 



