ARABIAN CAMEL. 233 



the darkness of night, serves only to give him a 

 clearer idea, of his own wretchedness and hnpo* 

 tence, and to conceal from his view the barriers 

 of the void, by extending around him that im- 

 mense abyss which separates him from the habit- 

 able parts of the earth ; an abyss Avhich in vain he 

 would attempt to traverse ; for hunger, thirst, and 

 scorching heat haunt every moment that remains 

 to him between despair and death. 



The Arab, however, by the assistance of his 

 Camel, has learned to surmount, and even to ap- 

 propriate these frightful intervals of Nature. 

 They serve him for an asylum, they secure his 

 repose, and maintain his independence. But man 

 never uses any thing without abuse. This same 

 free, independent, tranquil, and even rich Arab, 

 instead of regarding his deserts as the ramparts of 

 his liberty, pollutes them with his crimes. Hq 

 traverses them to carry off gold and slaves from 

 the adjacent nations. He employs them for per- 

 petrating his robberies, which unluckily he enjoys 

 more than his liberty ; for his enterprises are al- 

 most always successful. Notwithstanding the vi- 

 gilance of his neighbours, and the superiority of 

 their strength, he carries off with impunity, all 

 that he ravages from them. An Arab, who gives 

 himself up to this kind of terrestrial piracy, is 

 early accustomed to the fatigues of travelling, to 

 want of sleep, and to endure hunger, thirst, and 

 heat. With the same view he instructs, rears, and 

 exercises his Camels. A few days after their birth, 

 he folds their limbs under tlieu' belly, forces them 



