154 
ARABIAN 'CAMEL. 
a day. Every evening, when they arrive at a 
stage, which is usually some spot of verdure, 
where water and shrubs are in plenty, they are 
permitted to feed at liberty ; they are then seen to 
eat as much in an hour, as will supply them for 
twenty-four ; they seem to prefer the coarsest 
weeds to the softest pasture ; the thistle, the nettle, 
the cassia, and other prickly vegetables, are their 
favourite food ; but their drivers take care to 
supply them with a kind of paste composition, 
which serves as a more permanent nourishment. As 
these animals have often gone the same track, they 
are said to know 7 their way precisely, and to pur- 
sue their passage when their guides arc utterly 
astray ; when they come within a few 7 miles of 
their baiting place in the evening, they sagaciously 
scent it at a distance, and increasing their speed, 
arc often seen to trot with vivacity to their stage. 
The patience of this animal is most extraordi- 
nary ; and it is probable that its sufferings are 
great ; for when it is loaded, it sends forth most 
lamentable cries. At the slightest sign it bends 
its knees, and lies upon its belly, suffering 
itself to be loaded in this position ; by this prac- 
tice the burden is more easily laid upon it, than if 
lifted up while standing ; at another sign it rises 
with its load, and the driver getting upon its back, 
between the two panniers, which, like hampers, 
are placed upon each side, he encourages the 
camel to proceed with his voice, and with a song. 
In this manner the creature proceeds contentedly 
forward, with a slow uneasy walk, of about four 
miles an hour, and when it comes to its stage, 
lies dow n to be unloaded as before. 
M. Bulfon seems to consider the camel to be 
the most domesticated of all creatures, and to 
have more marks of the tyranny of man im- 
printed on its form. He is of opinion,* that this 
