TREATMENT OF CAMELS. 
Ill 
The spot where we were encamped was frightfully arid, 
there was not a single leaf to refresh the eye^ and nature pre- 
sented her most terrific aspect. 
The camels scattered over the plain, the profound soli- 
tude, the silence of the desert, produced painful impressions, 
which it is difficult to describe ; the poor animals, exhausted 
with fatigue, were lying near the tents, with their heads be- 
tween their legs, quietly waiting for the signal of departure ; 
it was given at last. At half past four Sidi-Aly who had un- 
dertaken to provide our rations, threw a few handfuls of 
dokhnou into a large calabash, and poured water upon it ; 
he then mixed the whole with his hands, thrusting his arms 
in up to the elbows — a sight which would have disgusted any 
one less hungry than ourselves, for water was so precious 
that old Aly's hands had not been washed for many days. 
Though the beverage was luke-warm, and very dirty, we 
drank heartily of it, and with the greatest delight. 
When the Moors had quenched their thirst, they went 
to look after the baggage, and to see that none of the straps 
had given way. In spite of this examination, which is re- 
peated at every halting-place, the camels are often gal- 
led by their loads, and these hurts are not easily healed; 
the Moors apply fire to the wounds, and often scarify the 
neighbouring parts and the tumours themselves, to let out 
the blood and matter ; they cut away the dead flesh, and 
cover the wound with salt to prevent mortification. When 
a camel is ill, or ready to die of exhaustion, the Moors give 
it a little water, and for this purpose they use a wooden fun- 
nel which they apply to its nostrils ; this is the best method 
of watering a camel, because the animal, though naturally 
docile, shakes its head about and spills the water on all sides, 
when it is applied to its mouth. It is only in cases of extre- 
mity however that they have recourse to this practice. 
Sometimes it was immediately after doctoring the wounds 
