332 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Sonnini's account of the camel. 



them, and then the owner of the garments may 

 safely make his appearance. " I have some- 

 times seen them/' says M. Sonnini, " weary of 

 the impatience of their riders, stop short, turn 

 round their long necks to bite them, and utter 

 cries of rage. In these circumstances the man 



O 



must be careful not to alight, as he would infal- 

 libly be torn to pieces: he must also refrain from 

 striking his beast, as that would but increase his 

 fury. Nothing can be done but to have pa- 

 tience, and appease the animal by patting him 

 with the hand, when he will resume his way and 

 his pace of himself." Like the elephant, these 

 animals have periodical fits of rage, in which 

 they have been known to take up a man in their 

 teeth, throw him on the ground, and trample 

 him under their feet. 



When suffered to graze in a rich and fertile 

 pasturage, these animals eat, in less than an hour, 

 as much as serves them to ruminate the whole 

 night, and nourish them during the next day. 

 It is but seldom, however, that they meet with 

 such pastures, neither is this food necessary for 

 them ; as they appear to prefer thistles, nettles, 

 broom, cassia, and other prickly vegetables, to- 

 the softest herbage. 



" Of all animals," says the Comte de Buffon, 

 " that man has subjugated, camels are the most 

 abject slaves. With incredible patience and 

 submission they traverse the burning sands of 

 Africa and Arabia, carrying burthens of amazing 



