322 MAMMALIA—CAMEL. 
being seldom found in any other place than in Turkey, and in some other 
varts of the Levant; while the dromedary, more common than any other 
beast of his size, is to be found in all the northern parts of Africa, in Egypt, 
in Persia, in South Tartary, and in all the northern parts of India. 
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The dromedary, therefore, occupies an immense tract of land, while the 
camel is confined to a small spot of ground; the first inhabits hot and 
parched regions; the second a more moist and temperate soil. The camel 
appears to be a native of Arabia; for it is not only the country where there 
is the greatest number, but it is also best accommodated to their nature. 
Arabia is the driest country in the world; and the camel is the least thirsty 
of all animals, and can pass seven days without any drink. The feet of the 
camel are formed to travel in sand; while, on the contrary, he cannot sup- 
port himself in moist and slippery ground. Herbage and pasture are want- 
ing to this country, as is the ox, whose place is supplied by the camel. 
The Arabs regard the camel as a present from heaven, a sacred animal, 
without whose aid they could neither subsist, trade, nor travel. It has 
been emphatically called the ship of the desert. Its milk is their common 
nourishment ; they likewise eat its flesh, especially that of the young ones, 
which they reckon very good. 'The hair of these animals, which is fine and 
soft, is renewed every year, and serves them to make stuff for their clothing 
and their furniture. Blessed with their camels, they not only want for 
nothing, but they even fear nothing. With them, they can, in a single day, 
place a tract of desert, of fifty miles, between them and their enemies, and 
all the armies in the world would perish in the pursuit of a troop of Arabs. 
Let any one figure to himseif a ccantry without verdure, and without water, 
a burning sun, a sky always clear, plains covered with sand, and mountains 
still more parched, over which the eve extends, and the sight is lost, with 
