FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



plains of the southwestern part of the 

 country. Finally in 1856 nine dromeda- 

 ries, 23 camels of burden and one calf 

 were purchased near Smyrna at prices 

 ranging from $15 to $1,000. Among these 

 animals was one cross between the Bac- 

 trian and Arabian camel which stood 

 10 feet 5 inches, measured 10 feet long 

 and 9 feet 9 inches in girth. lie weighed 

 2,000 pounds when in condition. Dur- 

 ing transportation a good daily ration 

 was found in four quarts of oats, 10 

 pounds of hay and a gallon of water, 

 with an occasional variation of crushed 

 neas or barley and salt once a week. 



travels 20 to 40 miles a day, but under 

 stress a much larger load, up to 1,000 

 pounds, may be carried, and the camel 

 may be made to cover 75 to 80 miles in 

 a day. 



All of the camels were safely landed 

 in Texas, one calf having been born on 

 the way and safely carried through. A 

 test of the camels was made immediately, 

 and it was found that three camels could 

 carry more than six mules could haul 

 and do it in much less time. In one 

 test, a camel easily rose from the ground 

 and walked away with 1,256 pounds of 

 hay on its back. The camels also proved 



Tig. 438 — WATER BUFFALO OR CARABAO 

 (From Photo by D. Griffiths) 



The fact that the natural diet of camels 

 consists of the leaves and branches of 

 various trees, including bitter and as- 

 tringent thorny bushes, seemed to mark 

 them as peculiarly fitted to thrive under 

 the conditions which prevail in our west- 

 ern deserts. 



It was found during the trip that, con- 

 trary to the general belief, the camel 

 really needs water every day. In an 

 emergency the camel can go 5 to 8 days 

 without water, but this is partly due to 

 the fact that he perspires very little. 

 At any rate, his water stomach holds 

 only about two gallons. The camel ordi- 

 narily carries 250 to 400 pounds and 



capable of traveling over muddy, slip- 

 pery roads and over steep mountain 

 passes without any difficulty. In 1857, 

 41 other camels were imported, a few 

 of which died, so that the whole herd 

 now numbered 70. Although the mili- 

 tary authorities reported that the camel 

 had proved his great usefulness and 

 complete adaptability to our western 

 arid conditions, little work was found 

 for them to do and idleness and lack of 

 care caused the appearance of disease 

 which soon carried off many of them. 

 The herd was scattered, some of them 

 being taken to Nevada, some to Califor- 

 nia, and others to Arizona. Some ob- 



