272 THE ox. 



colder deserts, and extending from the Caspian Sea eastward 

 through Central Asia to the Indian Ocean ; and the Arabian 

 Camel, having one protuberance only, and being fitted for 

 warmer climates and more steril deserts. The female of the 

 former species is little used for yielding milk, because, in 

 the countries which she inhabits, other animals better suited 

 to that end are found. Nevertheless, her milk is sometimes 

 used by the Eastern nations to produce, by fermentation, an 

 inebriating liquor. The other species of Camel is the trea- 

 sure of the wandering Arabs, and has so long been subjected 

 to domestication, that not a trace of it has been found in the 

 wild state. The conformation and habits of this animal are 

 suited to its condition. Its broad cleft hoof, covered with a 

 callous skin, does not sink in the sand, and suits itself 

 readily to the sharp stones and pebbles with which the sur- 

 face may be covered. It bears thirst and hunger better than 

 any known creature : it feeds on the withered herbage, the 

 thorny shrubs, and bitter plants of the desert, and can take 

 into its stomach a supply of food for the wants of a long 

 journey. In its stomach is developed a series of deep cells 

 for containing water ; and when the Arabs, on their distant 

 journeys, and in danger of perishing from thirst, are com- 

 pelled to kill their faithful Camel, its store of water is pro- 

 cured as pure and wholesome as from a fountain. The milk 

 of the female is made use of by the people as food ; it is 

 serous, and nauseous in taste to the stranger, but to the 

 Arab it proves a resource beyond all price in the burning 

 wilds which he inhabits. 



The Goat, we have seen, is spread over all the old conti- 

 nent, and many of its islands. The female yields milk in 

 considerable abundance, and nearly as freely as the Cow her- 

 self ; and she readily submits to be the fosternurse of other 

 animals, and treats her adopted offspring with affection. Her 

 milk is thick, more abounding in cheese than that of the 

 Cow, and plentiful in cream. It has a peculiar taste and 

 odour, to which use reconciles those who feed on it, and it is 



