72 
CAMEL. 
man could carry them with ease ; but after all these 
shifts there was not enough to serve us three days, 
at which I had estimated our journey to Syene, 
which still however was uncertain. Finding, there- 
fore, the camels would not rise, we killed two of 
them, and took as much flesh as might serve for 
the deficiency of bread, and from the stomach of 
each of the camels got about four gallons of water, 
which the Bishareen Arab managed with great 
dexterity. 
“ In those caravans, of long course, which come 
from the Niger across the desert of Selima, it is 
said that each camel, by drinking, lays in a store of 
water that will support him for forty days. I will 
by no means be a voucher of this account, which 
carries with it an air of exaggeration ; but fourteen 
or sixteen days, (six or seven,) it is well known, an 
ordinary camel will live, though he hath no fresh 
supply of water. When he chews the cud, or when 
he eats, you constantly see him tfirow from his re- 
pository mouthfuls of water to diliite his food ; and 
Nature has contrived this vessel with such pro- 
perties, that the water within never putrefies, nor 
turns unwholesome. It was indeed vapid, and of 
a blueish cast, but had neither taste nor smell.” 
The Arabian who lives independent in the midst 
of his solitudes, and who gives himself up to piracy, 
is early accustomed to the fatigues of travelling, to 
want of sleep, and to endure hunger, thirst, and 
heat. With the same view he instructs, rears, and 
