24 Anecdotal Natural History. 



as it is from time to time required. But for thia 

 provision the whale could never spend more than two 

 or three minutes together beneath the surface of the 

 water, the air or aerated blood being quite as necessary 

 to its existence as the water is to that of the camel. 



Of the two species of camel, the Arabian is by far 

 the more valuable, being both stronger and more en- 

 during of privation and fatigue than its Bactrian 

 relative. The load of the Arabian camel is usually 

 from five to six hundred pounds in weight, this being 

 the average amount that the creature can carry with 

 ease. It is by no means a swift creature, its pace 

 seldom exceeding two miles and a half in the hour, 

 and often not coming up to even that standard. There 

 is a swifter breed, usually known as the Dromedary, 

 which is chiefly kept for the saddle, and which can 

 keep up a pace of eight or nine miles per hour for 

 twenty hours at a stretch, being to the camel what the 

 racer is to the cart-horse. The motion of the camel 

 is most unpleasant to any one riding it, for it moves 

 both legs of each side together, progressing at a long 

 swinging trot, and jolting its unfortunate rider in the 

 most unmerciful manner. Novices in camel-riding 

 almost always suffer from sickness as badly as if they 

 were in a Channel steamer on a rough day. With some 

 of the faster dromedaries it is even necessary for the 

 rider to swathe his body, from the hips to the arms, 

 in bandages drawn as tightly as possible, before he 

 commences his journey. 



There is a mistaken idea that the camel is a very 

 patient, gentle, and docile animal, and that he is very 

 easily managed. In reality, the case is just the reverse, 

 for a more quarrelsome, unruly, and revengeful animal 

 hardly ever existed. No sooner is he unloaded than 

 he begins to fight any of his fellows who may be in the 

 neighbourhood ; the loading and unloading are never 



