510 HISTORY OF 



Mr Buffon seems to consider the camel to be the most do. 

 mesticated of all other creatures, and to have more marks of the 

 tyranny of man imprinted on its form. He is of opinion that 

 this animal is not no>v to be found in a state of nature ; that 

 the humps on its back, the callosities upon its breast and its 

 legs, and even the great reservoir for water, are all marks of 

 long servitude and domestic constraint. The deformities he 

 supposes to be perpetuated by generation ; and what at first was 

 accident at last becomes nature. However this be, the humps 

 upon the back grow large in proportion as the animal is well 

 fed, and if examined, they will be found composed of a substance 

 not unlike the udder of a cow. 



The inhabitants generally leave but one male to wait on ten 

 females, the rest they castrate ; and though they thus become 

 weaker, they are more manageable and patient. The female 

 receives the male in the same position as when these animals 

 are loaded ; she goes with young for about a year, and like all 

 other great animals, produces but one at a time. The camel's 

 milk is abundant and nourishing, and mixed with water makes a 

 principal part of the beverage of the Arabians. These animals 

 begin to engender at three years of age, and they ordinarily live 

 from forty to fifty years. The genital part of the male resem- 

 bles that of the bull, but it is placed pointing backwards, so that 

 its urine seems to be ejected in the manner of the female. This, 

 as well as the dung, and almost every part of this animal, is 

 converted to some useful purpose by the keepers. Of the urine, 

 sal ammoniac is made ; of the dung, litter for the horses, and 

 fire for the purpose of dressing their victuals. Thus, this ani- 

 mal alone seems to comprise within itself a variety of qualities, 

 any one of which serves to render other quadrupeds absolutely 

 necessary for the welfare of man : like the elephant it is man- 

 ageable and tame ; like the horse, it gives the rider security ; 

 it carries greater burdens than the ox or the mule, and its milk 

 is furnished in as great abundance as that of the cow ; the fiesli 

 of the young ones is supposed to be as delicate as veal ; their 

 hair is more beautiful, and more in request than v.-ool ; while 

 even of its very excrements no part is useless. 



cries of rago. In these circumstances the man must be careful not to alight, 

 as he would infallibly be torn to pieces ; he must also refrain from striking 

 Ids beast, as that would but increase his fury. 



