28 



THE USES OF THE CAMEL. 



coating of pressed earth, rendering traction slow and painful. 

 Travelling in such roads, with any thing like a load in a wagon, 

 is out of the question. This condition of the road offered an 

 opportunity for another test, — the travelling of the camel in 

 muddy weather, — not contemplated by me when the caravan 

 left, but which the information and sagacity of Mr. Ray at 

 once embraced. Packing light loads upon the camels, he took 

 advantage of a temporary cessation of rain, between 12 m. and 

 1 p. M., on Sunday, the 5th of October, and commenced his 

 return to camp. The rain continued with slight intermissions, 

 but generally coming down in torrents,' throughout Sunday 

 night and the succeeding Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday 

 evening, October 7th, the caravan reached camp at 7 p. m., 

 and delivered 3,800 pounds of oats, and a few miscellaneous 

 stores that it had transported, the state of the roads having 

 impeded but little its progress. Experienced, disinterested 

 persons said, at the time, that loaded wagons could not have 

 travelled in such weather." 



* ^ * * * -Jf 4f 



" "We have camels that for short distances will easily transport 

 twelve and fifteen hundred pounds, yet never but in one 

 instance has there been put upon them more than about six 

 hundred pounds. The exception referred to was during my 

 stay in Indianola, and within the first month or six weeks after 

 landing. [N'eeding hay at the cam el -yard, I directed one of the 

 men to take a camel to the quartermaster's forage-house and 

 bring up four bales. Desirous of seeing what effect it would 

 produce upon the public mind, I mingled in the crowd that 

 gathered round the camel as it came into town. When made 

 to kneel down to receive its load, and two bales, weighing in 

 all 613 pounds, were packed on, I heard doubts expressed 

 around me as to the animal's ability to rise under them ; when 

 two more bales were put on, making the gross weight of the 

 load 1,256 pounds, incredulity as to his ability to rise, much 

 less to carry it, found vent in positive assertion. To convey to 

 you the surprise and sudden change of sentiment when the 

 camel, at the signal, rose and walked off with his four bales 

 of hay, would be impossible. It is sufficient to say that I was 

 completely satisfied. I would have put on two more bales — 

 about 1,800 pounds — but four bales were sufficient for my 



