Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-08-14
The CnmeIs in texas.

The CameIS Ia Texas
A correspondent of the Richmond Examiner.
encamped near SansAntonio, on his way to Cali
forria, thus writes of the Cames, which have been
imported for the government service:
MONDAY. June the 22nd, Lieut. BeaIe returned
from Camp Verde. We were all on the 'q1i viye "
for the camels, which he had left behind in San
Antonio, in order that we might prepare for their
reception. We had been told that our mules and
horses would be much frightened at their appear
ance, and we were not little curious to gee the
result Of their meeting. Our suspense was not Of
long duration. just az the gray Of evening was
coming on, the eloHg, ckong claHg Of bells in the
distance announced their approach, and Ia few
moments the long wished for caravan hove in sight,
and we, for the frst time, suppose, in the life Of
every man Of US, saw as many as twenty-five cam
els advancing in single file; the whole under the
management of six 0rieutals-iour Turks and two
Greeks mot modern, but ancient Greeks; we had
enough of the other sort beiore.) Perhaps there
may have heen nothing which many persons
might regard particularly moving in the ght,
but the effect on me was rather peculiar The
dim twilight which made them seem like so ma
nv spectral shadows-the measured tone of the
bells, ike " drOwsy tiHklings - the shouting of
the drivers in their incompreheDsble jargon, as
they sat high above us on their dFomedaries-
the grotesque form OF the creatures whose heights
were greatly increased by their immense fancy-
stretched out like huge serpents peering sbout
for prey, combined to make a scene impressive,
and yet ridiculous with all. Had it been in the
streets of a city, should have fancied myself in
some Eastern land, where the turbaned Turk, OF
the swarthy Arab, with his patient, plodding cam
el, meet the eye at every turn.
AS stood thus, in silent contemplation the spell
was broken by loud laugh from almost the entire
party, who were such matter-offact persons as to
see nothing worthy of any emotion than that Of
mirtb. Heaven! thought l. what a lack OF senti-
meut! and half fanced myself Injured man
but the next moment, by sudden transition of
feeling, joined in the general guffdw.
As safeguard against stampede, we had taken
the preCaurion drive all stock into the curra
lis that the orthography!-it is Spanish word,
and am not suTe) and it proved TO be wise one
for more frightened herd Of animals never saw.
Every head tossed high in air. and forming into
a solid phalanx, led on bytwo splendid grays with
a wild neigh, they came like avalanche to the
side of the pen, aud would undoubtedly have cleared
1t at bound but for the guard which had been
stationed to prevent their exit.
Even now, after a companionship OF several days,
our mules are very shy Of them.
One of the Greeks having charge of the camels,
is an interesting youth of some sixteen years. with
fine intelligent face and 1.-THE, active form. II e
came no to me as l was standing near the curra
and something like the following dialogue ensued:
"You aragocalifoL?" INTERCEPTED he, in a soft
womanly voice.
eyes" said I, 81 am going to California hope
''You Ossiler, you Won clpitaine?'
81 am high private" was my rather ambiguous
reply.
"High pri alb ali goot, yer goot;" and he left
me- evidently impressed with the importance ofmy
position.
For me to enter into a history of the Camel,
would be very like presumption knowing that the
su' Ject has engaged the attention of those who
are far more capable of doing il justice; but may
be allowed TO mention few facts concerning them
which have gathered from observation. The
camels used by US said TO be very superior
oneF, and certainly present far more slightly ap-
pearauce than the mis- Table creatures which have
been exhibited in the strolling menageries that
sometimes visit your city. They purchased
for the government a choice lot and may doubt
less be regarded fully capable of testing the util-
ity OF their species in crossing the wide extended
p ms lying between the Mississippi valley and the
Pacific Ocean.
With their pack saddles on, which are not often
removed, they stand about feet in height. Their
general formation does not indicate great strength
in which, perhaps, they do not much, if at all ex-
coed the horse but their fitness for the travel west
ward, II the result proves their fitness at all CON
ssts III their capacity to endure the want of food
and water. They are said to be very hardy.
muniiesting but little choice in their food, SEEM
ing IN fact to prefer that in which other quad
rupeds find but little nutriment, such as twgs,
the leaves OF trees, and even sticks when pressed
ny LuuEcC
They are very docile and are easily MANAGED
Their gait Is slow, but their stride Is greater than
that OF horse, being about feet in length, and
with steady travelling they will average 81 miles
per hour.
They do not kneel to receive their load, as has
been stated, at the word of command; but with a
hr-F-r kiT-r r, and gentle pressure upon the neck
or pull upon their halters, they assume the re-
cumbent position.
IL has also been stated that when too heavily la
Gen 'hey refuse to rise, and utter piteous cry.
nave not seen one overloaded, but their cries are
uttered to express their distress or dissatisfaction at
AL umes. When halt suppressed they are the same
as the lazy grunt of a hog whose repose il rudely
disturbed; but when enraged it is much more wild
ana greatly like that OF a Bengal tiger when his
Keeper 'stiIs him up with a long pole"
we mad about 600 lbs. corn on each OF them for
the hrsL day or two, after leaving Howard's Ranch
nut each day reduces it by feeding, until we Law in
another supply. They have worked admirably well
SO Tar, and promise to fulfil our most sanguine ex-
pectauons in regard to the experiment"