At one time he was the owner of a Camel to which he had always been especially kind. He started on a journey across the desert, and after annoying him in every possible way with a continued persistence surprising in so stupid a beast, the Camel, in a fit of rage, broke into a gallop, throwing the gentleman from his saddle to the ground, trampled upon him and then galloped away at its own sweet will. We were also told that when the natives found that their Camels had a grudge against them, they so feared the revengeful beasts that they would place their clothing before the Camel and hide themselves behind bushes. The animal would then expend its rage upon the clothing, trampling and tearing it; the injury, real or imagined, would then be forgotten.

As it is about impossible to retain ones seat on a galloping Camel, they are trained only to trot. "The steady, alternating movement of the legs on the opposite side of the animal stops the sideways jolting motion, and if the rider skillfully lies back in his saddle, he experiences no more inconvenience from the still somewhat violent shaking up than he would if he were on horseback."

After purchasing our Camels, we began to study the habits and needs of our new acquisitions. We found ourselves obliged to provide food of a kind that caused us some surprise. Our Camels were far from fastidious. In fact, the poorer the food, the better it seemed to suit the needs of these peculiar beasts for the dryest of vegetation was acceptable. Shrubs and thorny branches were rapidly disposed of and one wondered that even their callous mouths could take them without injury. They were also fond of small beans, peas and vetches and were not averse to making a juicy meal on cultivated fields.

But this indulgence was to be avoided, as it was liable to produce inflammation and death.

The idea that Camels, when working could go very long periods without food and water, we found to be erroneous. The true ruminant has four stomachs; the Camel has three divisions only. The first two divisions are provided with cells or pouches which can be closed by strong muscles. These contain fluid only and it is on account of this peculiar construction that the animal can go several days without water, but when traveling in the heat of an African desert, at least every four days, the Camel must have water, nourishment and rest.

On account of their acute smell, they will detect water at some distance and it is really an interesting sight when thirsty, tired-out Camels draw near to a well or river. They lift their heads high in the air, inhale long breaths with half-closed eyes, lay their ears back and then start to run, so that one has to sit firmly in the saddle if he does not wish to be thrown out. When the beasts finally reach the well they crowd to the water and give themselves up to the enjoyment of drinking.

The food supply which assists the Camel in times of fasting is stored in the hump, which is really one great lump of fat. In times of plenty this is firm and pyramid-like in form, and may weigh as much as thirty pounds, but after prolonged hunger it will nearly disappear; weighing perhaps only four to six pounds.

This provision of nature, added to its peculiar stomach, makes the Camel in many respects the most useful of domestic animals. It has been domesticated from very early times. We know that they were owned in great numbers four thousand years ago. Pharaoh gave them as a present to Abraham and the patriarch job had at one time a herd numbering six thousand.