Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-09-12

with climate and breeding, and as a genera
rule their strength and endurance are. feate
the farther North they are found.
Although the camels generally represented
as exceedingly meek and docile. yet Majo
Wayne, in his report to the Government
says, strange as it may seem, numbers mr.,
trained for the arena; and one of the amuse
ments of Oriental life is contests between
lighting camels," in which one or the othe
is generally severely hurt, and not unfre
queutly killed by dislocation Of the cervica
vertebrn. In its general character and dis
eases the camel resembles more the OK thar
any other division OF animals Natural,
hardy, the camel will undergo much exposure
and fatigue without serious Inconvenience
and, beyond the ordinary ailments Of the o.
tribe, it has but two diseases Of consequence
the itch and q violent pneumonitis, or inflam
nation Of the lungs, which is apt to carry il
off in two or three days. The camel will wade
streams, even up to the hump, but reluctantly
and is said by some writer's to be unable te
swim.
In regard to the usefulness Of the Arabian
camel, the repor. says:
From its formation, tho Arabian camel is
calculated for burden, and not for draught
though it is used occasionally for ploughng
and has been harnessed by the English in
India in their batteries. Its deep chest and
strong fore.legs enable it 10 force well load
placed over them but its narrow loins and
long unganly hind legs deprive it of the
force necessary for longitudinal strain. Its
additional joint, too, in the hind legs. by
which it is enabled to kneel down and take q
position particularly suited to the packing oi
burdens upon its back and of readily rising
with them, indicate unmstakeab ito particu.
| ar nm f,po of ion for hat ind Of
| "Unfitted by the formation OF its nostrs
and lungs for violent exertion, its long and
regular strides, however, with its capacity for
continuous labor, enable it to make extensive
journeys in comparatively good time. 1t is
said, and | believe it. that the camel will, on
emergency, travel at its regular gait for sixty
successive hours without stopping. Formed
| rather for level than broken country. the
camel meets, though without Inconvenience,
q fair amount Of mountain and valley, and is
not distressed in ascending or descending
moderate slopes, though they be long.
"The foot Of the camel, clothed with a
| thick, tough skin said by some 10 be true
horn, enables it to travel with facility over
sand, gravel, or stones. 1t will also stand o
| tolerable degree of volcanic debris or rocky
soil and, aided by art, provided with shoe
| OF hide, iron shod ut the bottom, and which is
attached around the fetlock joint it traverses
these impediments without difficulty. and also
ice and snow. In wet, clayey, and muddy
| soils, the camel moves with embarrassment
| apt to slip and slide in it without the ability
to gather itself quickly
"The flesh of the camel is good for food,
resembling beef, though said to be moro deli
cate and tender. Its resemblance to beef is
such that it can be readily imposed for it upon
the unsuspectipg without detection. Its milk
is good to drink, and is not distnguishable
from tina: of cows. l have used it in my tea
every morning for some weeks, knowing it to
be camefs milk, without perceiving any differ
! ence in color or taste. The pile OF the camel,
also, though coarse, is applied to the manu-
| facture of many useful articles, as carpets,
coarse cloths, and ropes, but not to any of
fine texture.
Another recommendatory characteristic
OF the camel is its pasturing upon almost
| every shrub and plant that grows, even the
thistle, prickly pear, and other thorny vogeta-
bles, aud thereby Producing materially the
| obligation of providing it with food. A little,
besides-thanks to its hump-goes a great
way; 80 that, in comparison with other ami
mails Of burden or draught, it requires less
provision OF forage-an economy at any time,
but materially an advantageous arrangement
ior JouTuey. lne cuuiei eau uioo, ou elHcr-
gency, travel three. four, even seven days
without water or food; ard it is servceable
from four to twenty five years of age.
! ".lS an animal Of burden the power OF the
camel depends upon its stock, and measurably
upon climate, those of Central Asia being
ordinarily stronger and more vigorous than
those OF Africa or India. From the most
reliable information, confirmed by observation
very strong camel will carry for short
distances, say from one part Of the town to
another, about from 1000 to 1900 pounds.
"On journeys the loads for the strongest
camels range from 450 to 600 pounds and oi
the common kinds from 800 to 450 pounds
and these they will carry from eighteen to
thirty miles day, according to the character
of the country, whether broken or level, over
which they travel, and moving for the usual
daily travelling time Of from eight to ten
hours. With lighter loads they will travel
somewhat faster.
".ls saddle animal, or dromedary, the
capacity Of the camel for burden is little, its
conformation to qualify it for riding being
necessarily lighter; but it compensates by
speed for its comparative want Of power
The average load for a dromedary ranges
from $50 to 300 pounds, and this he will carry
continually, travelling from eight TO ten
|
emergency they will make from seventy tc
ninety miles day, but this only for day OIL
two, and over a level country. Instances Of
greater speed being kept up for several sue
cessive days are related but they are few and
far between"
Major Wayne thinks that he is satisfied
that Americans will be able to manage camel:
not only as well, but better than Arabs, a:
they will do it with more humanity and fai
greater intelligence. Those he obtained were
landed at lndanola, Texas, on the l4th O
May, 1856. and he remained in charge o
them until January of this year. In u letter
to the Secretary OF War, on the 18th Of Feb
ruary he says that the process of acclimatior
has been partially and SO far successfully
accomplished SO that he has no doubt of III
complete success. lie proposes that the
camels should have fixed home for three OIL
four years at some point on the frontier
where they may be carefully attended, ant
their increase in number promoted, and from
which they may be used from time to time
in transportation and scouting. Their present
location Camp Verde, Texas,) is recon
mended as an excellent one. After thu
thirty-three csmels procured by Major Wayne