600 Documents relative to the application of [July, 



including a detention of about ten minutes in crossing the Hindon 

 river. 



When the Camel's temper, docility, strength, and capacity to endure 

 thirst, are considered, it must be obvious that no mode of crossing the 

 desert could be discovered, equal to that of a Camel carriage. 



The best description of carriage for the purpose, would probably be 

 something between a britska and a cab phaeton, made as light as pos- 

 sible, with hood that will let down or close up entirely, and with dickies 

 for servants before and behind, and room in the bodyj or under the 

 dickies, for clothes and other baggage. On a good road such carriage 

 should of course be made with steel springs, but for crossing rough 

 roads, I should think, that long springs of buffalo leather, like those used 

 for the Caracollas in the Havannah, described in Alexander's travels, 

 would answer well. The wheels should be all of the same size, and 

 five feet in diameter. I should think that carriages of the sort required, 

 might be built both cheaper and better in India than in Europe. Cal- 

 cutta built carriages are usually lighter than those imported, and the 

 wheels are especially much lighter, and certainly stand the climate better. 

 I have reason to believe that for 1,500 or 1,600 rupees, a carriage 

 of the above description, every way efficient, may be built in Calcutta. 



Three Camels per stage would be ample for such carriage, to take two 

 passengers, their servants, and light baggage; and the distance from 

 Suez to Cairo being under eighty miles, four stages would suffice. Three 

 relays would be necessary, and the journey might then be performed 

 with safety and ease in twelve hours. These relays might be sent for- 

 ward from Suez, when the steamer was first signalized, and would then 

 be ready to take forward the carriage, when the traveller reached the 

 relay station. 



The Camel draws with perfect ease, and requires but little training. 

 His pace is a long walk, or a long trot, and there is no unpleasant 

 motion of any sort imparted to the carriage by his movement. It is 

 not generally advisable to take a Camel in draught a longer stage than 

 twenty miles, as when over-worked they are apt to lie down, and will 

 not move; an unpleasant proceeding in mid-stage. But for eighteen 

 miles they will trot readily and well. Camels for draught should be 

 highly fed, and it is a good plan, at the expiration of a stage, to give 

 them half a seer of ghee ; this if laid out in skins, they will lap up at 

 once, and will then readily eat their grain or fodder ; but otherwise, 

 they will sometimes be off their food ; and it cannot be too strongly im- 

 pressed on all who employ the Camel in draught, that good feeding is a 

 sine qua non to ensure its efficiency. 



