210 WILD ANIMALS. 



They ai;e inhabitants of Persia, Northern and Central Asia from 

 Turkestan, the ancient Bactria, to China, and are occasionally to 

 be found in Arabia. 



Colonel Prezhevalsky, who for three years was never separated 

 from his Bactrian camels, and had ample opportunity of study- 

 ing their nature and habits, describes them as being the 

 most characteristic and remarkable animals of Mongolia. They 

 are the constant companion of the nomad and often the source of 

 his prosperity, and are invaluable to the traveller who wishes to 

 cross that northern and inhospitable des6rt. The good points of 

 this animal are a well-ribbed body, wide feetj and high, upright 

 humps far apart. The first two qualities denote strength, and 

 the upright humps show the beast is fat and capable of under- 

 taking a long journey. This writer states that the camel's hump 

 is sometimes brokeUj and, in consequencej will not stand erect ; 

 but this accident is of no importance, provided it remains hard 

 and large. " The boundless steppe or desert is the home of the 

 camel ; here, like its master, the Mongolj it can be perfectly happy. 

 Both the man aiid the beast shun fixed abodes. Confined in an 

 enclosure^ although supplied with an abutidance of the best food, 

 the camel will pine and die ; excepting, perhaps, a few kept by the 

 Chinese to transport coal, corn, or other loads. But they are 

 poorj miserable creatures, compared with their fellows of the 

 steppe ; and even they will not bear confinement all the year 

 round, and must be let loose in summer to pasture on the neigh- 

 bouring plains and recruit their strength, 



" The habits of the camel are very peculiar. It is anything 

 but dainty in its food, and may serve as a model of moderation | 

 but this is only t]?ue on the desert ; take it to pasturage such as 

 we have at home, and instead of becoming fat it grows leaner 

 every day-. It cannot thrive without salt, and eats with avidity 

 the white saline efflorescence called gudjif, which covers all the 

 mafshes, and often exudes from the soil on the grass steppes of 

 Mongolia. . If there be none of this it will eat pure saltj which 

 however, is not so beneficial and shoilld only be given twice of 

 thrice a month. If kept without salt for any length of time 

 camels will get out of condition, however plentiful food may be, 



