Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1857-02-28
The Camel

Although, thus far, the camel has proved
about as well adapted TO Texas as to his
native country, it yet remains to be seen
whether he will equal our native horses.
mules and oxen, in the services to which
he is adapted: Mr.. A. Ray, "Chief Of
the Camel Department. U. s. Army" has
noted some facts in relation to the camel,
which may be Of interest to some Of our
readers:
The camel appears TO eat whatever ve-
ge,a,ion the earth produces no loves to
gather his own food and will then cat al
mos, everything. If his food is given to
him already cut or gathered he becomes
very fas,idicus, and cares only for thistles
or few tender herbs. As a general rule
caro- must be taken that the camel is not
sent out to feed before the dew is of the
grass then at night is good hour to re-
turn them from the pasture. In autumn
they are sent out after sunrise and returned
from pasture after sunset. In winter they
are pastured as in autumn, but they are
only allowed to drink when the water has
been warmed by the sun. Camels are in
the habit Of lying down and Illuminating
on their arrival at camp; they must be
compelled to rise and eat, because as they
only sleep four hours they have time to
ruminate during the night. In regard to
the dew the Arabs are not agreed as to
its injurious effects, the French in Algeria.
however, deem it hurtful. Barley and
straw (broken) are given to tho camel
when pasturage cannot be had. When
on march or on arrival at camp. no her.
bage can be found, the camel then has
given to it 4 few balls Of dough made of
wheat, horse bean, and barley flour. Sus.
tanned by this, the traveller Shaw says he
has seen camel carry load Of 700 lbs.
for ten or fifteen hours per day without
stopping. The Arabs say it is necessary
: to let the camel have Pasturage and young
shrubs in the summer, and they give it
neither barley or straw. 1t subsists on
what it can get for ITSELF prefering spinous
vegetables. To fatten the camel, its pas
turage should be occasionally changed.
In good pasture It will eat enough in
two hours 10 last twenty -four hours.
At four years old the camel is loaded
and used for all purposes At tive years he
lis at full vigor and remains so up to nine
years. From nine to thirteen years he
loses his strength, and at seventeen he
lis old. He sHl eaa 1851 B., ~
A strong, vigorous camel can easily
carry, on 4 level road, $50 to 500 lbs !; in
billy country the load ought not TO ex.
coed 500 lbs, saddle included. When
necessity demands it they can be fully
loaded, even in mountainous region, but
in that case there must be spare animals
in tho troop. 'Hs =-'-
| IL not overdriven the camel will march
loaded from sunrise 10 sunset. Stretching
his neck from side to side Of the road. he
gathers the heritage within his reach and
in this manner makes bis 80 or 40 miles
per day. 1t is we'll. or rather necessary,
to rest him every ninth day. The camel
must never be pushed but in cases Of great
urgency. During tho march the pace is
relaxed when the ground offers good pas
turage. fih r "3 'A''a t
!! The condition Of the animal can always
be Judged Of by the size Of its hump, which
is formed from the superintendent nourish-
mcnt. The reabsorption Of this glandular
substance co,npensates, in measure, for
the scarcity Of food. During long march
the hump is seen gradually TO diminish,
and in case Of famine, 10 disappear. e5
The Arabs say the reason the animal
drinks so little is because he secretes no
bile. The quantity he drinks at one time
is from thirty to forty pints. '4fag go
The camel endures hunger and thirst
j with patience that would be thought little
short of miraculous, were one. ignorant Of
the construction Of the stomach, which is
not only capable Of containing water in
reserve, but, according to Cuvier, Of pro.
ducing it. Tho camel not only has four
stomachs, like all ruminants, but has also,
in one Of them, species Of reservoir,
formed in cavities or cells, which may al.
together contain twenty Pints Of water.
4 This water remains there without detcri.
loration, 10 such an extent that it il stated
by a ceiebrated traveller that he has seen
a camel disembowelcd, which had been
dead ten days, in whose reservoir was
found three pints Of water, still drinkable.
By COMPRISING the reservoir BY the ac-
}tiop Of its muscles, tho! animal moistens
its food. The Camel generally drinks once