THE (TKUE) CAMEL. 



75 



BACTKIAX CAMEL. 



like the Horse or Elephant : then I say that the Camel is by no means docile very much the contrary. 

 He takes no heed of his rider, pays no attention whether he be on his back or not, walks straight on 

 when once set agoing, merely because he is too stupid to turn aside ; and then, should some tempting- 

 thorn or green branch allure him out of the path, continues to walk on in the new direction simply 

 because he is too dull to turn back into the right road. In a word, he is from first to last an 

 undomesticated and savage animal rendered serviceable by stupidity alone, without much skill on his 

 master's part, and any co-operation on his own, save that of an extreme passiveness. Neither attach- 

 ment nor even habit impresses him ; never tame, though not wide awake enough to be exactly wild." 



Nevertheless the animal gives indications of intelligence when badly treated, if we may judge 

 from its revengeful nature, well illustrated in the following account : 



" A valuable Camel, working in an oil-mill, was severely beaten by its driver. Perceiving that 

 the Camel had treasured up the injury, and was only waiting a favourable opportunity for revenge, he 

 kept a strict watch upon the animal. Time passed away ; the Camel, perceiving that it was watched, 

 was quiet and obedient, and the driver began to think that the beating was forgotten, when one night, 

 after the lapse of several months, the man was sleeping on a raised platform in the mill, whilst, as is 

 customary, the Camel was stabled in a corner. Happening to awake, the driver observed by the 

 bright moonlight that, when all was quiet, the animal looked cautiously around, rose softly, and 

 stealing towards a spot where a bundle of clothes and a bernous, thrown carelessly on the ground, 

 resembled a sleeping figure, cast itself with violence upon them, rolling with all its weight, and tearing 

 them most viciously with its teeth. Satisfied that its revenge was complete, the Camel was returning 

 to its corner, when the driver sat up and spoke. At the sound of his voice, and perceiving the mistake 



