166 Rough Notes on the Zoology of Candahar. [No. 170. 



some of the older writers, that in their times the camel was found in the 

 regions of Tartary, yet as their accounts have been corroborated by no 

 later travellers, and as I feel assured, from information carefully collect- 

 ed during a two years' residence at Candahar, from traders to Bokhara 

 and other neighbouring states, that none are found wild in our days, it 

 is most probable that the herds described as once existing in a state of 

 freedom within the modern era, were either as Cuvier has suggested, 

 individuals let loose from religious motives by the Calmucks, or that 

 they were troops of young or even fold animals, turned out to graze to- 

 gether in the breeding districts, as is the custom where pasture is 

 plentiful and the animal not required for immediate labour. This con- 

 jecture would more particularly apply to the two-humped or Bactrian 

 camel, which, from its constitution being suited more especially to the 

 cold regions of the northern Steppes, is unable to perform long journeys 

 southward during the heats of summer, and they may therefore be left 

 at that season to roam and feed in herds upon the plains of the Khuzzak 

 country to the north of Bokhara, which appears to be the proper habitat 

 of the species, until the winter setting in again enables them to travel with 

 kafilahs of merchandise, into Russia and other states. It is very certain, 

 however, that if the camel seen by the old authors, or even by Mr. Trebeck, 

 in his tour to Ludak, 62 was on the Steppes of Tartary, it could have 

 been no other than the Bactrian species, for the Arabian camel would be 

 wholly unable to endure the rigours of the climate in those northern 

 latitudes. Balkh and Bokhara, appearing by all accounts to be the most 

 northern limit in which it can live, and even there it requires the great- 

 est care and the comfort of warm clothing and shelter, to enable it to 

 survive the cold of the winter months. Thus, after all, even if the 

 Bactrian camel could be proved to have been wild within the historical 

 era, we should still require proof that the dromedary had been so found, 

 and as all the arguments hitherto have had reference to this last species, 

 we are still authorised in believing that it at least has never been 

 known to man in a state of natural freedom since the present order 

 of things commenced. 



From strict and careful inquiries instituted during a two years' resi- 

 dence in Afghanistan, through traders of all classes who were in the 

 constant habit of travelling into the Tartar countries, as well as through 

 some Khuzzak camel drivers, I am unhesitatingly inclined to adopt the 



62. Vide Editor's Note.— Journal As. Soc, No. F. 



