140 



THE CAMEL 



the animals but one hour's reft ; after which, 

 reluming their fong, they proceed on their 

 march for feveral hours more, and the finging is 

 continued till they arrive at another refting-place, 

 when the camels again lie down; and their loads, 

 by unloofing the ropes, are allowed to glide off 

 on each fide of the animals. Thus they ileep on 

 their bellies in the middle of their baggage, which, 

 next morning, is fixed on their backs with equal 

 quicknefs and facility as it haa* been detached the 

 evening before. 



The callofities and tumours on the breaft and 

 legs, the contufions and wounds of the fkin, the 

 complete falling ofF of the hair, hunger, thirft, 

 and meagernefs, are not the only inconveniences 

 to which thefe animals are fubje&ed : To fufFer all 

 thefe evils they are prepared by caftration, which 

 is a misfortune greater than any other they are 

 obliged to undergo. One male is only left for eight 

 or ten females * ; and the labouring camels are 

 generally geldings. They are unquestionably 

 weaker than unmutilated males ; but they are 

 more tradable, and at all feafons ready for ier- 

 vice. While the former are not only unma- 

 nageable, but almoit furious t, during the rut- 



ting 



know the tunes which the animals love beft to hear; Voyage 

 de Char din, torn. 2. p. 28. 



* The Africans geld all their camels which are deftined 

 to carry burdens, and only one entire male is left for ten fe- 

 males ; U /jfrique de Alamo/, torn. I. p. 48. 



f In the rutting feafon, the camels are extremely trouble- 

 {hme. They fret and foam, and bite every perfon who ap- 

 proaches 



