The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-07-07
DOMESTIC.

ASHFORD, (Con.) June II.
70 the Editor Of the North American.
SIR,
Academy, on my passage through this
sta5c3 kmet with an extract from your paper
recommending the Introduction of the Camel
10 tae southern sections Of the union. as an
animal of burthen. Many years ago held
command on the southern frontiers of
Georgia, and had occasion to reconnoitrc a
very considerable part Of that country Il
remarked much Inconvenience in transport
ing the productions of inferior plantations to
navigabie waters, by reason of the weakness
OF the working cattle and horses, obstruc-
ton OF loose sands and slippery clay bottoms,
ana the want OF forage to support teams:
ior these are iMpediments which can never
be wholly removed-A remedy can be had
by introducing the Camel. l formed this o.
plnion soon after becoming acquainted with
inc customs and habits of the Mnors and
Arabs on the coast of Africa and it was
my intention to have sent a number of that
and other animals from that coast, to some
OF my friends in the southe. states, had not
adVersity defeated my designs. All which
is stated IN the piece above alluded to- con-
Corning the usefulness of the Camel, can
confirm from actual experiment About five
hundred camels bore our baggage, provisions
and camp equiPage from the borders of E.
gypt to the eastern provinces Of Tripoli-
They were driven by Arabs-1'he region
through which we passed was extremely
sterile In march OF about six hundred
mics IN the desert we saw neither cottage,
q trult tree nor a natural stream of water
On the borders of mountains and in the ra-
vines we found miserable shrubbery wild
thyme, thistle, kind of dwarf sweet briar.
low and knotted thorn bushes, and here and
there little heritage No provisions were
rl0 NJ tow ,,t.s
lhe proportionate burthen laden on each
OF them was about seven hundred weight.
he VALUES between the high grounds and
mountains are plains of sand, in some places
deep and quick. In many instances we were
compelled to march two, thee or four DAYS
through these dreary plains without afford
ing any forage to those patient animals and
1t was only when we fell in with such coarse
vegetation as have before described, that
they were loosed from their hampers and
permitted to roam under the vigilance and
responsibility of their drivers (; they seem
Ell to prefer the toughest weeds, and were
peculiarly fond of the thistle and wild thyme
L hough from the ScaHtine8S OF this wretch
ca KIND OF forage. they became low in flesh,
rot one OF them failed ; and am persuaded
IRON my own observation that they did not
have water more than four or FIVE times du-
ring passage of fifty days.-The scanty
terms and rare reservoirs, hardly kept alive
our furnishing host and our cavalry horses,
winch cannot subsist without drink. One
Arab was allowed to the care of ten CameIs
ROW useful might this animal be rendered
on the plains of our southern climates
Cold weather, freezing. is destructive to
them and they make laboricus and wea-
ry progress among rocks.
In such parts of the southern states as
a tnuflc
mails and other communicat atoms are carried
by horses, the Dromeaary would also be a
useful introduction: This animal seems
TO be species OF the camel, less i'm size, not
Calculated tor burthcn, slender of frame,
easy OF motion, aud speedy of travel Its
general daily march is about sixty miles
when pushed, one hundred. 1t feeds On the
same plants as the camel, and is equally
docile and obedient 1t is remarkable that
the camel always kneels to receive its bur-
then, and has the sagacity to know and conf
plain when too much is imposed for his
strength; hekneels also to be unladen.
Other kinds of useful animals might also
be brought from Africa. They have the fl
nest mules on the Barbary coast have ever
seen IN any country and the means of pro
ducIng the same quality here, may be easily
obtained and transported. An excellent spe-
cies OF sheep are found there, upon which,
Soiiie DehcHClal experiments nave been made
upon the plantations of Judge Peters of Penn
ssylvania. Some valuable tropical FRUIT trees
from that coast, unknown in our country,
think might be made to flourish in the vici-
nifty OF New Orleans, on the banks of the
Mississippi, aad on our southern frontiers
particularly the Palm tree. 1t produces a
fruit extremely nutritious, whsch forms a
chief article Of subsistence TO the sun-brown-
ed wanderers of the interior Of Barbary and
Egypt--is very delicious, aud is a rare treat
as desert upon the boards Of gentlemen in.
Europe and America
Ihfs sketch rs imperfect, but not incor-
rect Apassenger and late hour, must a.
polog'ze for imperfec.ion. shall be glad
To correspond with any gentlemen who feel
and viii take an interest in this subject and
II circumstances allow, would willingly have
concern IN an enterprise which believe
might, IN process of time, be rendered very
useful to our country.
Accept, sir, Ipray you,
the assurance Of my considerable
friendship and respect,