138 THE CAMEL 



but becomes very large in thofe fed with her> 

 bage alone. 



Thcfe conjectures would be either fully con- 

 firmed or deftroyed, if we had wild camels to 

 compare with the domeftic. But thefe animals 

 no where exift in a natural ftate, or, if they do, 

 no man has obierved or defcribed them. We 

 ought to fuppofe, therefore, that every thing 

 good and beautiful belongs to Nature, and that 

 whatever is defective and deformed in thefe ani- 

 mals proceeds from the labour and flavery im- 

 pofed on them by the empire of man. Thefe 

 inofFenfive creatures muft fuffer much; for they 

 utter the mod lamentable cries, efpecially when 

 overloaded. But, though perpetually opprefled, 

 their fortitude is equal to their docility. At the 

 firft fignal*, they bend their knees and lie down 

 to be loaded f, which faves their conductor the 



trouble 



# The camels are fo obedient to their mailers, that, when 

 he wants to load or unload them, by a fmgle word or fignal, 

 they inltantly lie down on their bellies. Their food is fcanty 

 and their labour great ; Cofmog. du Levatit t pnr Tbevet, p. 74. — 

 They are accuftomed to lie down to be loaded, by having 

 their legs folded under them when very young; and their obe- 

 dience is fo prompt as to excite admiration. Whenever the 

 caravan arrives at the place of encampment, all the camels 

 which belong to one mafter range themfelves fpontaneoufly 

 in a circular form, and lie down on their four legs ; fo that, 

 by loofing a cord which binds the bales, they gently fall down 

 on each ride of the animal. When the time of loading ar- 

 rives, the camels come and lie down between the bales, and, 

 after they are fixed, rife foftly with their load. This exercife 

 they perform in a fhort time, and without the fmalleft trou- 

 ble or noife; Voyage de Tavernler, torn. Up. 160. 



f The camels., when about to be loaded, lie down on their 



four 



