65 TREATMENT OF CAMELS AND COWS. 
they have also a number of fine horses, of which they take 
great care ; giving them milk when it is plentiful, morning 
and night. When a horseman arrives at a camp, he goes 
about inquiring for milk and for water for his beast. 
The care of the camels is committed to the Lara- 
tines* or the zenagues, and very seldom to negro slaves. As 
soon as a camel is foaled, its legs are tied under its body, 
to habituate it from the first to the posture in which it is to 
receive its burthen. When it is old enough to carry a load, 
a month is sufficient to teach it to rise with its burthen, and 
to balance itself. When it is to be weaned, they thrust a 
splinter through its nose, and fasten some thorns to the 
splinter, that it may prick its mother whenever it comes 
near her, and she may prevent it from sucking. They also 
tie a cloth round the teats of the mother, and fasten it over 
her back. The black slaves attend on the bullocks, driving 
them to pasture at seven o'clock in the morning, and bring- 
ing them back at sun- set. The cows are not milked till ten 
o'clock at night, after the last prayer ; those w^ho took care 
of them in the day time performing the office. The wooden 
vessel which they use to milk into is never cleaned except 
by holding it over the fire for about ten minutes ; by this 
method of purification, it contracts a smoky taste, which it 
imparts to the milk, and this renders it very unpleasant. 
The Moors let the calves suck, because they fancy that the 
cow would cease to give milk if they did not. A boy is em- 
ployed to lead them out one after another, as soon as they 
are milked. The calf runs to its mother, and is suffered to 
suck for a few minutes ; they then tie it to one of its mo- 
ther's legs, and she permits herself to be milked without per- 
* The Laratines are the offspring of Moors and female slaves ; they are 
slaves themselves, but are never sold, and proud of their origin ; they 
sometimes refuse to obey their master. They are an intermediate race be- 
tween the Moors and the slaves. 
