The Sun.
London, England, 1824-06-03 00:00:00

CAMELS.

The utility and submission -of these noble
beasts of burden in transporting piles of mer-
chandize, which can only he ruppreciated, by
those to whom they render essential services, may
be thus described.

"After leaving the City 'of Jerusalem I passed over a chain
of mountains, or what has been denominated in Scripture,
the " Hill Country of Judea," where 1 overtook a prodigious
band of Camels marching in regular order, heavily laden, ac-
companied by numerous keepers. A jingling noise was heard
a considerable distance, in consequence of the tinkling Of bells,
each having one attached' to the neck. Their ears not being
insensible to such kind of sounds, this mode, it is said, is adopt-
ed to cheer them, etpecially.when fatigued with a long Jour-
ney, and accompanied by their keepers singing loudly.
" This formidable spectacle brought to my memory the.
Camels on their journey belonging to, the Ishmalites, charged
with aromatic substances, on their way to Egypt; and that
strong comparison which was made by our Lord, to the state of
the Man, whose heart is so engrossed with the riches •of this
world, as to neglect his eternal interests, thereby teaching us
he cannot inherit that life which is everlasting.. These quad-
rupeds halt a short time during their journies, at parti-
cularlountains 'which have - been built by pious Mahtme-
dans at certain places, from which time and • distance
are calculated previous to the guides setting out on a journey.
The sight is truly interesting at' some of these restin'g'placi,s,
from the crowd of camels; which are seen on their knees, in a
a kind of methodical order, With the keepers sitting cross-legged
under trees for shelter from heat, partaking of refreshnients,
and smoking their pipes. They never' touch these until the
camels are supplied with such provisiorii as are necessary. Ms-
tances of time are often calcUlated' according to ths length of
the shadow of the camel about sun.set. Further, Camels con-
stitute a great part of the wealth of an Arab ; nay, I r!lay add,
they are his, whole treasure. In his eyes theirnumber is held
in higher estimation than even bags of money ; and, as for..
merly remarked, they entered into that par? of the calculation
which was formed of the wealth of Job. It may appear ex-
traordinary, that these people, by ,whom they are considered as
sacred objects, should emphatically call them " their ships."
It is supposed that the patriarch, in speaking of his time upon
earth hastening like "swift ships," had those animals in kis

view. •
" The extreme usefulness of camels, and their capability
of transporting enormous piles' of merchandice to a vast dis-
tance, especially along the most dreary deserts, is as sur-
prising as their patience under such ponderms weights.
They are graceful in form ; the neck approaches in some de-
gree to the front part of a vessel ; they eyes are keen, and they
proceed at a steady pace ; but to quicken their motions, the
whip is rarely, if at any time, applied. It is a surprising cir-
cumstance, that these animals are supposed to smell water at
the distance perhaps of a mile i and the powers they exercise in
sustaining hunger, thirst, and incessant toil, under a burning
Sun, are also striking; indeed. without the accommodation af-
forded by them, these dreary regions never could he traversed
, andp.revaelsnot
by man. Should it, hoWever, occur, that his camels are cut ofF
by accident, in the course of these journies, the loss is altogether
irreparable to the traveller, and mustinevitahly be followed by
the sacrifice of his own life. A canal or reservoir, to contain
water, and equal to a fifth part of the stomach, belongs peen-
Early to this animal, with which the food never interferes.-_
Notwithstanding they may in general be considered submissive,
and inoffensive, yet,, since they retain long a
_t4epse of injury
B"yb'ino• gently touched on .the fore
perceived it was always found nucesBarY_
muzzled by a chain or ropes to P
frual
tlgey .0 lfotawdo-
ventt°aneZtacklitrowM. riltillirY
teeth, by which they are el
offered, and watch
theariopportunity.troeexkereceeeertsh.greiii:e:rreintii:te,ehl
',Lc/ rest, they are matlet e
period of halting at
kneel down ,as of old, by be inn
, themselvesthey w al k a tp tahi ne
legs are frequently tied, to"
r keepers. It
them from rising and'eoeprfortnue
often supplies
tseud paptlit
ehs.e extraordinaryt
period e
d eofic
ccwiaehsnieocnyn
with
, ,
of
tth,t they
young. are
.n
they are oa e , un oa c ,
articular groan is uttered ; and it. some.
in this position ,
tv.ht of their burden is at
strayinf fdromd theil d
xi n
d once ascer-
, llinittetia,
migioilnsesueesul;sidli
tna,aeignindau,du.pvil,rhapoe:Ernw:
is not
iny oo
camels:tt i
interrupted
ref:use to moveu step until the burden is li htened.
Although, -
miles an s9l
fothra:Crl7 o bilsnerivi finding
n to travel to a very great distance in the course of' a
know camel
single day. The female continually gives milk; which,
No inconsiderable value was attached- to this species, in the
tarlicst age, when they were added to the gifts of acob.
the deserts, as it kindles quickly, and affords heat;' and their
soft hair, as it drops off periodically, is manufactured into ar-
ticles of clothing, and applied to purposes connected .with the
tents of their,owners.' it may be here added, as a singular ed, they
cir-
cumstance, thatin the neighbourhood of Piss, in Italy, there
is a race of camels, which were brought from the EastAluring
the period of the Crusatles.".L-(Travds of Itme WlLsom in
Turkey, Greeee, anel'other Countries. )