GENERAL REMARKS 329 



leave their homes, and to come all the way to South 

 Africa, a high rate of wages and other inducements 

 would have to be offered. But in the long run this 

 would be advisable, and with their help the natives of 

 these parts could be instructed. 



In face, however, of the objection to the camel Breeding 

 on the grounds of expense, Major von Francois, I am plan 

 pleased to say, recognising its high utility, has recom- 

 mended his Government to adopt the breeding of 

 camels in Damaraland. Let us hope that our Govern- 

 ment will lose no time in setting the example, or even 

 in following it. That he is right goes without saying, 

 for this is from every conceivable standpoint the best 

 and most practical method to adopt, and I am certain 

 that camels thrive better in a climate and country in 

 which they have been bred. The best plan would be 

 to import females six months pregnant, so as to give 

 them ample time to recover from the journey before 

 giving birth. Ten is too small a number to begin with, 

 and fifty would enable one to arrive at a sounder 

 opinion, besides proving a more suitable investment; 

 and of course, either for breeding or working, it would 

 in the end be far cheaper to import the best breed, a 

 question that does not in any way admit of argument. 



And now in a few words let us sum up the special 

 advantages of camel over ox transport. 



1. Can carry or draw twice as much. The ad- 



vantages 



2. Faster, and able to cover more ground daily. of the 



3. Can do from 20 to 25 miles in one stretch. the ox 



4. Will make many more journeys in a year and in 

 their respective lifetimes. 



5. Able to traverse ground that a wagon will stick in. 



