BOOK VIII. XXV. 66-xxvi. 68 



Hyrcania and India produce the tiger, an animal nger 

 of terrific speed, which is most noticeable when the '•""'•"^- 

 whole of its htter, which is always numerous, is 

 being captured. The htter is taken by a man lying 

 in wait with the swiftest horse obtainable, and is 

 transferred successively to fresh horses. But when 

 the mother tiger finds the lair empty (for the males 

 do not look after their young) she rushes ofF at head- 

 long speed, tracking them by scent. The captor 

 when her roar approaches throws away one of the 

 cubs. She snatches it up in her mouth, and returns 

 and resumes the pursuit at even a faster pace owing 

 to her burden, and so on in succession until the hunter 

 has regained the ship and her ferocity rages vainly 

 on the shore. 



XXVI. The East pastures camels among its flocks Thecamei 

 of cattle ; of these there are two kinds, the Bactrian dwmedary 

 and the Arabian, which differ in that the former have 

 two humps on the back and the latter one, with a 

 second hump beneath the chest on which they can 

 rest their weight ; but both kinds resemble oxen 

 in having no teeth in the upper jaw. All however 

 perform the services of beasts of burden, and also of 

 cavalry in battles ; their speed is below that of 

 horses. But the two kinds differ in dimensions, as 

 also in strength ; and a camel will not travel beyond 

 its customary march, nor carry more than the regula- 

 tion load. They possess an innate hatred for horses. 

 They can endure thirst for as much as four days, and 

 when they have an opportunity they replenish them- 

 selves both for the past interval and for the future, 

 stirring up the water by trampHng with their fore 

 feet before they drink — otherwise they do not enjoy 

 the draught. They Uve for fifty years, some even 



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