326 MAMMALIA—CAMEL. 
profit is not drawn; for sal ammoniac is made from their urine. Their 
dung, when driej and powdered, serves them for litter, as it does for horses, 
with whom they often travel into countries where neither straw nor hay is 
known. In fine, a kind of turf is also made of this dung, which burns 
freely, and gives a flame as clear, and almost as lively, as that of dry wood. 
Even this is another great use, especially in deserts, where not a tree is 
to be seen, and where, from the deficiency of combustible matters, fire is 
almost as scarce as water. 
At particular seasons of the year, camel fights are common at Smyrna, 
and at Aleppo. Such exhibitions are the disgrace of the vulgar (te they 
the high or the low vulgar,) of all countries; and the liou fighis of the 
savage Romans, the bull fights of Spain, the bull and badger baitings and 
cock fights of England, and the camel fights of Asia Minor, are equally 
indications of a barbarian spirit, which can only be eradicated by knowledge 
and true religion. Of these, however, the camel fights appear the least 
objectionable. 
Mr Mac Farlane thus describes to us this curious scene: —‘‘One of the 
favorite holiday amusements of the Turks of Asia Minor, is furnished by 
the camel combats. An inclosure is made, and two camels, previously 
rouzzled, so that they cannot hurt each other much, are driven in, and incit- 
ed to fight with each other. Their mode of combat is curious; they knock 
their heads together, (laterally,) twist their long necks, wrestle with their 
fore legs, almost like bipeds, and seem to direct their principal attention to 
the throwing down of the adversary. During this combat, the Turks, deep- 
ly interested, will back some one camel and some the other; and they will 
clap their hands and cry out the names of their ‘respective favorites, just as 
our amateurs do with their dogs, or as the Spaniards, at their more splendid 
and more bloody bull fights, will echo the name of the hardy bull, or the 
gallant matador. 
“T once, however, chanced to see a less innocent contest, which I have 
noticed in my volume of travels. This was on the plain between Mounts 
Sipylus and Tartalee, and the town of Smyrna. It was a fight in down- 
right earnest. Two huge rivals broke away from the string, and set to in 
spite of their drivers. They bit each other furiously, and it was with great 
difficulty the devidgis succeeded in separating these, at other times, affees 
tionate and docile animals. The popular amusements which the camel 
affords in other parts of the East are of a less ferocious nature. At a parti- 
cular season of the year, the Mahomedans in the neighborhood cf Mount 
Sinai have camel races, and this festival is a time of great rejoicing.” 
Burckhardt relates an interesting story, which beautifully illustrates the 
surprising instinct of the.camel. It was told to him by a man who had 
himself suffered all the pangs of death :— 
“Tn the month of August, a small caravan prepared to set out from Ber- 
ber to Daraou. It consisted of five merchants and about thirty slaves, with 
