CAMELS. 155 



carrying from 700 to 1200 lb, twelve bales of Bhoosa (960 lb> 

 being a common load. 



With regard to the merits of different breeds of Camels; 

 dm:ing the Afghan War of 1878-80 the plains camels were 

 preferable for service on the hotter or Indian side, but were 

 reported on as useless for the higher, colder regions. Of the 

 plains camels those of Bikanir were superior to the Punjab, and 

 the latter better than the Sind. Of the Punjab camels the best 

 were obtained from Eawalpindi. 



The Salt Eange Camels with Corps at present in Waziristan 

 are in excellent order. A consignment of beautiful Persian 

 camels obtained last year nearly all died during the heat of 

 summer in Waziristan. 



In the Nile Expedition of 1884-85, the Delta camel of Egypt, 

 a large, heavy, powerful animal, used for carrying loads on the 

 cultivated lands of the Delta, was at first thought unsuitable for 

 the Desert, but events proved him to be most satisfactory, and 

 he withstood the desert marching nearly, if not equally as well 

 as other breeds. A Battery of Artillery with Delta camels 

 marched the whole way from Cairo to Matammeh across the 

 Bayuda Desert. 



Crossed Delta and Desert are useful animals. The Bishareen 

 is a desert bred animal, small, and essentially a riding camel. 



The Kabbabish camel of the Bayuda Desert is larger and 

 stronger thah the Bishareen. He was principally hired when 

 our own transport broke down during the Nile Expedition. As 

 he subsists on grazing entirely, time (which can ill be afiforded) 

 is necessary to admit of a grazing system to be carried out. 



A big, soft camel with an exceptionally large hump is found 

 in the Dongola District. He is almost impossible to fit with a 

 Government saddle. 



The Arabian camel sent from Aden to the Nile Expedition 

 was well adapted for riding and baggage purposes, and proved 

 equally as good, if not better than any employed. 



The remarks of the Veterinary Inspector, Lines of Com- 

 munication, of the Somaliland Field Force in 1904, are well 

 worth quoting, as the country is essentially one for the 

 employment of Camel Transport. He says : — 



"A more cosmopolitan array of camels, both riding and 

 burden, has probably never been seen in any campaign." 



