THE CAMEL. I95 



chopped straw to eat. I have sometimes seen the drivers 

 on a hot day, or in passing a dry district, spirt a little 

 water in the Camel's nostrils; they pretend it refreshes them." 



Camel Biding. Camel riding is evidently an exercise which 

 needs getting used to. Mrs. Bowdich says: "High saddles 

 are placed on their backs; and it requires either to be used 

 to them, or to be particularly careful, not to be half-killed 

 at starting. The rider places himself in the saddle while 

 the animals are kneeling; and when they raise their hind- 

 legs, which they do first of all, they send the unprepared 

 traveller forwards, and his breath is almost taken out of him 

 by the blow which he receives upon his chest ; then as they 

 get upon their fore-legs they throw him back, so as to 

 endanger his spine. Their pace is at first very disagreeable, 

 being so long and slouching." 



Captain Riley describes his experiences as follows: "They 

 placed me on the largest Camel I had yet seen, which was 

 nine or ten feet in height. The Camels were now all 

 kneeling or lying down, and mine among the rest. I thought 

 I had taken a good hold, to steady myself while he was 

 rising; yet his motion was so heavy, and my strength so far 

 exhausted, that I could not possibly hold on, and tumbled 

 ofiF over his tail. Turning entirely over, I came down upon 

 my feet, which prevented my receiving any material injury, 

 though the shock to my frame was very severe." 



A Oamel's Mr, Palgrave who combats the idea of the 



Bevenge. camel's docility, unless stupidity may be taken 

 as its synonym, gives a painful illustration of the savagery to 

 which the camel may be provoked by cruel treatment, though 

 we doubt if the elephant who is proverbial for his docility 

 would stand the brutality to which the camel is sometimes 

 treated. "A lad of about fourteen, had conducted a large 

 camel laden with wood from one village to another, half an 

 hour's distance or so. As the animal loitered or turned out 

 of the way, its conductor struck it repeatedly, and harder 



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