34 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



We had brought with us from Europe two long-haired 

 retrievers, and at Aden Lieutenant von Hohnel had 

 bought a little, bright-eyed fox-terrier. 



For the two weeks immediately preceding we had 

 been drilling our men in loading and unloading the 

 camels and donkeys. The camel saddles consisted of 

 two heavy mats ; the one placed next the animal's 

 back being made of long, soft grass, and the other, 

 placed over this and next the load, of coarser text- 

 ure. Over these mats four poles were placed, tied 

 together at the upper end, each of which was six feet 

 in length. The fastening at the upper ends of the 

 poles was about one foot from their tips. The poles 

 were then paired, one pair being taken forward, and 

 securely tied to the rear of the fore-legs, and the other 

 pair being carried back, and tied just in front of the 

 hind legs, thus forming a skeleton pyramid. Upon 

 these sticks the loads were bound. A camel can 

 easily carry from 300 to 400 pounds ; so we fastened 

 from four to five loads upon each animal. 



The donkey saddles consisted of two bags made of 

 untanned ox-hide joined together, and falling like pan- 

 niers on each side of the beast's back. In order to 

 prevent friction and the consequent soreness of the 

 animal, a pad of soft grass was placed between the 

 donkey and the saddle. A breast strap and a breech- 

 ing retained the saddle in proper position ; and equal 

 weights being placed in each pocket of the saddle, 

 and the gait of the donkey being even, equilibrium 

 was maintained, and their positions rarely had to be 

 rearranged while on the march. 



I placed in charge of the donkeys three men well 



