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| The animal called, "ship of the desert.'' |
Its stomach, upon which the life of the camel depends during its long journeys, is constructed in a wonderful fashion. It contains a number of cells which carry a great quantity of water. When drinking, the camel takes in sufficient to fill all these cells, which is enough for a six or seven days' journey, and when the camel gets thirsty it draws upon this supply. It is thus able to live a week while crossing the blinding, sandy wastes without stopping for water. Some naturalists have claimed that the camel has never been wild, for as far back as history can trace it has always been in the service of man.
In parts of Arabia, on the great steppes of Russia, and the plateau of Central Asia, camels are sometimes seen in a wild state, but they have probably escaped from some of the tame herds. An attempt was once made to introduce the camel into the United States. The animals were taken out to Arizona and New Mexico. The plan was a failure and the herd rapidly diminished by decease. A few of the beasts escaped and for years afterward were seen from time to time in various parts of Arizona.
The Arabian camel has a single hump, while the Bactrian, or camel of Asia, has two humps. These humps are formed of fat. The Arabs can tell the condition of a camel by its hump. After a long journey it becomes flabby and sometimes disappears altogether, while the hump of a camel in good health should be firm and solid. The feet of the camel are splendidly built for the work it has to do, as most of its journeys are over small, loose rocks and shifting sand. Its toes are wide apart and well padded beneath, so that it has a firm foot-hold. It has always been the custom to load the camel kneeling, hence it has developed a hard, leathery surface over its knees, which serve as a protection against sore places being formed. The camel has been credited with greater speed than it really has. There is one species called the "heirie," which can trot at the rate of ten miles an hour and keep it up from sunrise to sunset, but the common camel's stride is seven feet, and taking them on the average of thirty-six to the minute makes its speed about three miles an hour.
It would be hard to find a creature with a more morose and ugly disposition. It is great fun to watch a camel being loaded, for its temper is worst at this time. The Arab comes in front of his beast, taking care to keep out of the way of its teeth, and coaxes and begs the animal to get down on its knees. If this has no effect, he gets a big stick and whacks and pokes it until it obeys. He must tie it down by the muzzle or it will rise the minute his back is turned. Then the patient Arab piles his boxes on top of a saddle and straps them there, while the camel keeps up a gurgling and grunting, all the time trying to bite its master's legs. When the loading is finished, the camel rises to its feet. If it is in an extra bad temper, it will buck the load off its back.
The camel lives to a great age, and in some parts of the world is held in great veneration. Sometimes a white camel is born. These animals are always very highly prized. The dervish warrior, the Madhi of the Soudan, rode upon a white camel. The beast is said to have been a magnificent specimen, being larger than any of the commoner species. It was afterward killed in battle. In the deserts they take the place of regular cavalry.
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