Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-05-24
The United States CameIs:
Their T~oyage-7he Ship that brought them
Their Pedigree, Uses. etc.
New ORLEANS, Nav NJ. Is!

New ORLEANS, May IS, 1856.
Dear DeNa-I, your volunteer reporter, left
this city on the 9th, at 7 A. NJ, aS a passenger
in the good old u. S. transport, Fashion, com.
manded by an old friend and navigator, Captain
Baker. On the evening of the sam day we
made fast to the u. S. storeship, Supply, on
board of which we're the long.expect9d catnels.
A week before the Supply had tried to land
them in Texas, but the weather was so bad
that it could not be done, and it was deemed
advisable to take them out in the Mississippi
river, for which purpose the Fashion was dis~
patched BY Col. d. D. Tompkins.
The ship being secured, ], all anxiety to
see the animals" stepped on board the
Supply; but although SO anxious to see them,
| could not resist the impulse 10 stop and ads
mire the trim neatness and order of all around
me. Being somewhat of a sailor myself, |
must say | was much pleased to observe
with what dispatch and precision every order
was executed; and being an American, | was
proud to see one Of our naval ships so well
manned, and with so much credit to the ser~
vice.
But | am straying from my subject.
The United States ship Supply left the
port of Smyrna on the 18th February, having
littb StitSG aAlC ia AiA Ou pOdlQs IlltBG Va
them being dromedaries, or riding camels.
Most persons on this side of the Atlantic,
are under the impression that a d~ronedary
only differs from the ordinary camel, by having
but one hump on its back; but | must tell
them that such is not so, as the only difference
is, that the dromedary is much better made,
more symmetrical, and therefore much feeter.
Two Of them are Bactrian, or two-hnmped
camsls, which were brought over for breeding.
Twenty-Five are beasts Of burden. OF this
original stock only one died, and that by acct
dent in bringing forth. Six calves were born
OH the passage. Three Of those died from
accidents, one of them from fits leaving
two, which are alive and thriving, and making
in all thIrty-four, being one more than was
started with.
The ship arrived at Matagorda on The 29th
Of April, having had eighty-six days sea voy.
age. One Of these camels was on board shin
nine months, he being. q present to US from
the Regent Of Tunis. Six of the drOmedaries
were presented to US Uncle SamD by the
ViceToy Of Egypt. Most Of them have shed
their hair, and they are more or less perfectly
naked.
The cross Of the Ractrian OF two.humped,
with the one.humped female produces 3 pow
erful oneehnmped animal, called a @Boogdhu''
"Iiulu," which resembles a mule In its |
TO continue its race; or if ii does pros
create, the issue is a punY, worthless Creature,
called q "Koukonrs." A aBooedhn, " or
" Tiulu" will carry for short distances from
twelve TO fifteen hundred pounds but its
average load on q long journey is about seven
hundred pounds, which he can carry with ease,
from thirty to thirty-fye miles per day. The
was brought over merely to show its
usefulness. One Of the male camels Is 8 Pehs
tavan, or lighting camel. Contests between
thass cauelswagriors afford ono Of the favor
amuseEnents ia the East. Being trained