Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-09-19

f. Tile Camel IN america. We observe ma
ny gratifying and interesting accounts in tlt
papers of the successful employment of tn,
Camel in this country. The follomin& or
the subject we take from the ThHadc1phia
Press:
''In March 1855. Congress appropriated
$50, 600 for the purchase and importation Of
camels, cntrustiug MAJOR Wayne with the
execution OF the affair In little more than
twelve months he had selected and safely
brought to Texas thirty four camels and
dromedaries. After another year had pass
ed, during which these animals had been to
a certain extent, domeaticated and acclama-
TIED, the majority Of them were placed at
the command Of Lieut. Be4le, to be used by
him IN making the Southern Wagon road a.
cross to California. Hercports that, weight
ing each camel with seven hundred pounds
burden, they Travelled most successfully from
San Antonio to FL Paso living GA bitter
heritage, which The mules would not eat
herbage which abounds in tie .lnoat barren
of our deserts. While every unshod horse
and mule got lame from travelling over what
are graphically called grinding roads, the
peculiar gait of the camel enabled it to avoid
friction, aad their nnshod boots were wholly
uninjured, even by TEDIOUS travel over "A
road consisting of sharp, coarse, irregular,
fiaty gravel, about the size eff pea, and
smaller, acting on the feet ike steel r3sp.
In all respects they are superior to mules,
and are peculiarly adapted for carrying bur-
dens, or for conveying the mails, over the
extensive arid plains which abound in Tex
as, California, New Mexico, Utah, aEd, the
Mesilla Yalley. >'
'.The dromedary has one hump, the cam
cl has two Their hoofs are softer, more
spongy, more elias tic than the hoofs of other
animals. and, yielding TO the pressure, are
not to be worn ont by almost any quantity
OF work Their stomaehs (of which they
have four) arc SO framed as, after thirst Is
supplied, to enable them to take in, and re-
tain as much fresh water as Will last theni
from ten to fifteen days. They bear hunger
with great patience, and their appetite is
easily satisfied with the coarsest heritage. =
They carry from ] 600 to /, 200 pounds
burden They are good tempered (though
so high spirited chat theJ resent ill-asage)
and easily manageable Some ofthese canels
will accomplish regular speed, day af.er
day for month, Of from thirty TO enc hun
dred miles day. In China, where they
are much employed, they are called foag
hyo to, which signifies feet of the wind. =
They are used N Tartary, Arabia, Hin
dostan Persia, and Asiatic Turkey where
ever, in short, vast ARID sand plains are to
be trayersed IN Africa they are much
employed, particularly in Egypt, Lord By
ron has mentioned thai the Arabs POLITICALLY
designate them as The Ships of tie Desert.
The acclimation of such mammal must
be considered az a great national boon.
Where the horse and mule will oe knocked
up. from hunger and thirst, the camel will
exist and even thrive. The least inviting
heritage feeds them AS for water, they
can carry it with them, and they car scent
q spring, lake Or river at distance of two
miles. Aajor Wayne has done good service
to the country in introducing the camel in
to such parts as they are particularly suited
for. We shall watch the progress of the
experiment with interest, but not with any,
iety A thing well commenced is already
half accomplished" ',~e-.='