6o HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



that the feet of camels were in time of war, or on long 

 journeys, shod. And we infer that the Kaf'fbanvai men- 

 tioned by them were formed of a pliable leather sock 

 covering the foot, stouter perhaps on the sole than else- 

 where, and which, passing up the leg, was there fastened 

 by thongs or bandages. 



A friend who was for a long period surveying in 

 Africa, and whose duties carried him as far as the Soudan, 

 informed me that horses are but seldom shod on the 

 immense alluvial surface of the Sahara, where, for enor- 

 mous distances, not a stone the size of a pebble is to be 

 seen. In the rocky or stony regions, however, all are 

 shod, and on long journeys the retention of the shoes and 

 protection of the hoofs is a matter of much concern to 

 the horsemen. To guard against the evil consequences 

 that would follow the loss of one or two shoes by a horse 

 when others could not be readily supplied, the conductors 

 or followers of caravans, as well as the horsemen, are 

 careful always to carry with them a sufficient quantity of 

 leather to make socks to wrap the exposed hoof in. On 

 the death of a camel — an event of frequent occurrence^ 

 a piece of the thickest part of the hide is removed ; and 

 when this begins to dry, it is subjected to long-continued 

 and almost incessant manipulation, to make it soft and 

 pliable, so as to lit closely to the hoof when required. 

 The Arabs are often observed on the march pulling, 

 rubbing, twisting, and stretching the lately-stripped camel- 

 skin, solely with the intention of using it as a sock for the 

 horses or camels when they become foot-sore. 



In Japan, in i860, the large black bulls used as pack 

 animals, were often seen wearing foot-covers of this de- 



