EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 259 
three and a half : while in Egypt they are frequently obliged 
to toil under eight, ten, or even more. From thefe are feledted 
the camels which bear the facred treafure to the tomb of the 
Prophet. Soudan affords many fine dromedaries, but thofe of 
Sennaar are moft celebrated. Incredible ftories are told of the 
long and rapid journies performed by them ; as that they will 
hold out for four-and-twenty hours, travelling conftantly at the 
rate of ten miles per hour : however this be, they are indifput- 
ably fwift, and perform long journeys almoft without refrefh- 
ment. 
The dogs of Dar-Fur are of the fame kind as thofe of Egypt, 
and live on the public like the latter. I have underftood that 
there is in fome parts of the country a fpecies of dog, ufed in 
hunting the antelope, [ghazdl^ Ar.) and another fort to guard 
the flieep ; of the fagacity of the latter wonderful tales are told, 
as well as of the courage and fidelity of both. Experience has 
not enabled me to confirm the report. The common houfe-cat 
is fcarce ; and if I am rightly informed, there are none but what 
have been originally brought from Egypt They are of the 
fame kind as with us. 
The wild or ferocious animals are, principally, the lion, the 
leopard, the hyena, (Fur. murfahi^ diibba^ Ar.) the wolf, the 
jackal, canis aureus^ the wild buffaloe : but they are not com- 
monly feen within the more cultivated part of the empire, at 
leaft that which I have vifited, excepting the hyena and the 
jackal ; the former come in herds of fix, eight, and often more, 
into all the villages at night, and carry off with them whatever 
L L 2 thev 
