THE EUMINANT OEDEE. 231 



and strong animal merchandise finds its way from the remote 

 countries of Asia as far as the eastern confines of Europe. The 

 rich products of Arabia, ages past, were brought to Pha3nicia on 

 the backs of Camels ; and in our time, in the same way, merchan- 

 dise is borne to Alexandria, from whence it is distributed over 

 the European continent. 



The better to fit the Camel for its arduous life, the Arab trains 

 it to do without sleep, and to suffer all the extremes of hunger, 

 thirst, and heat. A few days after its birth, its legs are bent 

 under its stomach, and it is compelled to remain crouched upon 

 the ground, laden with a suitable weight, which is gradually 

 increased with its ao;e. As it arrives at maturity, its food is 

 restricted, and given at longer intervals ; it is also practised in 

 running and enduring severe exercise. 



Its natural abstemiousness, further developed by training, is 

 so great that a Camel laden with from five to six hundred 

 pounds weight, travelling eight or ten leagues a day under a 

 burning sun, receives no other food than a few handfuls of grain, 

 a limited number of dates, or a small pellet of maize paste. The 

 Camel will often go eight or ten days without drinking ; but when 

 the poor animal, after such a fast, approaches a pool of water, it 

 scents it at a great distance, redoubles its pace, and eagerly pushes 

 for the coveted necessary of life, and drinks for the past, the 

 present, and alas ! too often, for a long future. 



The name of caravan (Fig. 74) has been given to companies 

 formed in the desert by the assemblage of travellers, who thus, 

 through numbers, avoid the insults and robberies of the brigands 

 scattered around and over its immense confines. These caravans 

 use Camels and Dromedaries for their beasts of burthen ; the 

 former are loaded with the baggage and provisions, the latter 

 are reserved to carry the travellers. Each is loaded according 

 to its strength ; and the creatures know so well how much they can 

 carry, that if too heavy a load be imposed, they refuse to stand up, 

 or strike with their heads at those who surround them, uttering at 

 the same time lamentable cries. When aU are loaded and ready to 

 start, an Arab, who acts as guide, precedes them, the Camels and 

 the Dromedaries following in line. This guide sings a monotonous 

 a,nd modulated plaintive song, indicating to his attendants by the 

 quickness or slowness of its measure, when they are to increase or 



