THE CAMEL. 



We were on the road to Biskra, the 

 "Queen of the Desert." Sand, sand 

 everywhere, as we looked across the 

 dreary spaces as far as the eye could 

 reach. Frequently the monotony was re- 

 lieved by the long lines of caravans pass- 

 ing to and fro ; they were picturesque 

 and poetical; they moved with stately 

 motion and graceful swing across the 

 background of never-ending and often 

 shifting sand. 



Had this been our only experience 

 with the Camels which compose the cara- 

 vans, we would have returned with glow- 

 ing accounts and waxed eloquent over 

 these beasts of burden. We would have 

 assured our friends of their patience and 

 fortitude and with growing enthusiasm 

 described the showy trappings and effec- 

 tive poses which charmed us on the des- 

 ert road. But alas ! We came to know 

 the Camel well at close range and truly 

 "familiarity breeds contempt." 



The Camels about Biskra were the 

 long-legged variety commonly called 

 Dromedaries. They had but one hump 

 and averaged from about six and one-half 

 to seven and one-half feet in height ; and 

 from muzzle to tip of tail they measured 

 ten or eleven feet. While the majority 

 were of a light sandy color, it was not 

 impossible to find a white, grey, brown or 

 even black Camel, but a black Camel was 

 held in great contempt by the Arabs. The 

 hair was irregular in length and almost 

 woolly in places. The callouses, large and 

 prominent, were found on the breast and 

 joints of the legs, making cushions for the 

 beast to rest upon when lying down or 

 kneeling. These callous places, scarcely 

 showing at birth, grow with advancing 

 age. 



It is true that these animals, ungainly 

 and uncouth at near view, are indis- 

 pensable to the Arab of the desert ; but all 



their generations of domestic life have 

 failed to cultivate in their stupid minds 

 any affection or care for their masters. 

 Their obedience is passive and their ap- 

 parent patience only stupidity, for they 

 are unamiable, obstinate and disagree- 

 able. 



The Camel varies nearly as much as do 

 the horses of our own country. There 

 are many grades and degrees from the 

 ordinary baggage Camel to the high- 

 toned thoroughbred which corresponds 

 to our high-class race horse. These rac- 

 ing Camels are long-legged and long- 

 necked, the hump stands upright ; is coni- 

 cal in shape and covers about one-fourth 

 of the length of the body; the head is 

 rather short, the eyes large and dull, and 

 the ears very small but mobile. The hair 

 is especially fine and soft. 



A friend of ours who owned a fine 

 saddle Camel was able to make from 

 eighty to ninety miles a day if his Camel 

 was well fed and watered and was al- 

 lowed a rest at noon. This pace he was 

 able to continue without injury for three 

 or four consecutive days, and after a 

 well earned rest he could repeat the jour- 

 ney. 



A baggage Camel, carrying a load of 

 perhaps three hundred pounds, would not 

 make over thirty miles a day, but could 

 often march twelve hours or longer with- 

 out rest. However, a man of position 

 would never condescend to ride on a bag- 

 gage Camel. 



Our friend told us that in buying sad- 

 dle Camels for our desert ride we would 

 be obliged to pay about sixty-five dollars 

 each, and that we must look for those 

 with soft backs, those which did not re- 

 quire the whip and would not cry when 

 getting up or lying down. But he added 

 that with these excellent traits we must 

 not expect too much, for the best Camel 



228 



