COMMUNICATIONS. 
117 
mountains of confiderable magnitude, may be regarded as com- 
paratively leveL • 
To fuch a country the camel is peculiarly fuited ; for his broa J 
and tender foot, which flides on a wet furface, and is injured by 
the refiftance of Hones, is obferved to tread with perfect fecurity 
and eafe on tlie dry and yielding fand : and while, from the 
fame circumftances in its ibufture, his hoof is incapable of faf- 
tening, with any ftrength, on the ground of a fteep afcent, and 
furniflies, in a flielving declivity, no folid or fufficient fupport, 
his movement on a fmooth and level furface is fingularly firm 
and fafe. 
So remarkably exemplified in Africa is that rule m the occo- 
nomy of Nature which fuits the beaft of burthen to the land 
which it inhabits, that in the country which lies to the South- imhammei. 
Weft of the Niger, where the furface is mountainous, and the 
ground is as ftony in fome places, as it is wet and muddy in 
others, no camels are found. Their place is fupplied by fmali 
horfes, affes, and mules. 
The proper burthen for a camel varies with its ftrength, which 
is very different in different fpecies of the animaL In the do- 
minions 
