THE CAMEL. 211 



and they have been known to take wHte stones in their mouths, 

 mistaking them for lumps of salt. 



" We ought also to mention that some camels are omnivorous, 

 and will eat almost anything; old bleached bones, their own 

 pack-saddle stuffed with straw, straps, leather, &c., &c. Ours 

 once ate up some gloves and a leathern saddle belonging to our 

 Cossacks ; and the Mongols told me of camels which had been 

 without food for a long while, and which devoured an old vest 

 of their master's in the coolest manner possible. They will even 

 eat meat and fish ; one stole meat we had hung up to dry ; one 

 voracious brute actually made off with the bird-skins ready for 

 stuffing, and relished dried fish and the remains of the dog's food ; 

 but this was a singular instance, and his eccentric tastes were not 

 shared by the others." 



The intelligence of these camels is described as being of a low 

 order ; they are stupid and timid ; anything out of the common, 

 even a hare starting from beneath their feet, has been known to 

 throw a whole caravan into confusion. When attacked by a wolf, 

 the animal never attempts to defend itself, although one of its 

 powerful kicks would kill its enemy. 



Between March and June they shed their coats, and the skin 

 becomes quite bare, which renders them susceptible to cold. 

 The new coat is not fully grown before the end of September. 

 Although they may possess a constitution as strong as iron, they 

 are so accustomed to dry atmosphere that a few nights on damp 

 or moist ground will give them cold and start them coughing, and 

 cause other complaints to which they are susceptible. 



p 2 



