124 
THE STORY OF THE CAMEL. 
Considered as a direct auxiliary of man in war, the dromedary may in 
many cases advantageously replace the horse. That the ancients employed it 
in war is a fact attested alike by monuments and writers. 
Owing to its many services, the pagan Arabs held the dromedary camel 
in such veneration that they consecrated to the gods three females, which 
were exempted from labor, and the cream of whose milk was used for liba¬ 
tions. 
The pack-saddle of the camel consists of a cushion of cloth filled with 
fibres of the date-tree. The ends of this cushion are doubled together and 
form the inner part of the pack-saddle. Above this are placed two props or 
wooden angles, fastened together by two sticks of equal size made fast by 
means of small cords. The hump of the camel comes between the two 
branches of the pack-saddle. Two large bags usually constitute the load of 
a camel. They are suspended to the crosspieces which fasten the reins. The 
camel carries only a simple bridle attached to a headstall ornamented with 
tassels, little shells or glass ornaments, and surmounted by a bouquet of cock 
or ostrich feathers. The leader of the file carries, beside, around his neck, a 
little bell, the monotonous sound of which encourages the band and distin¬ 
guishes it from other parties. 
The camel is made to kneel during the process of loading or unloading. 
In order to force him into this position they bear upon his halter, crying 
“Kha! kha !” The animal exhibits more or less docility, though he never 
obeys without giving vent to groans either pitiful or enraged, by which, as 
also by certain movements of the head, he shows that he suffers, that he is, 
sufficiently loaded, or that he dreads the fatigue of the journey. When they 
are traveling in caravans these cries, repeated every morning by each camel, 
indicate the moment of departure. The animal is retained in the position 
requisite for loading by doubling one of the front legs together and tying 
it at the knee, as it could still rise on three legs; refractory animals are fas¬ 
tened thus by two legs. The camel makes four sudden jerks in sitting, which 
he does by elevating his hind-quarters first, thus putting his rider or burden 
in an angle of forty degrees. Great caution, then, is requisite to prevent a 
dangerous fall. Only a quarter of an hour is required for loading, when the 
camel rises slowly and commences his journey. The driver, walking behind 
or at his side, urges him forward by crying, “Da! da!” When it becomes 
requisite to turn the animal to the right or left, it is done by pulling his tail 
in the opposite direction, and he obeys the movements as a vessel does the 
action of the rudder. 
