Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-31

Major wavne. who for ten years has been
occupied with the experiment OF introducing
the Camel into this country, states IN the
National 1ntelligencer the result. He Gays :
The camel does not consume more food
than horse or mule: prefers coarser diet;
satisfies itself readily with either scanty graz
ing or browsing: requires feeding but once
day, bcing ruminant; and would be with
difficulty Distressed for water. 1T requires no
close stable. only a shed protecting 1t from
cold northerly winds and from falling wealth
er and REQUIRES no grooming, though GER
family bcalthier and better, like all other ami
mails for clean skin. The camel is undoubt-
edly harder and tougher animal than the
horse: not surpassed, If equalled. in these re-
spects by the mule: and with half the forage
Of either. and with two or three hours OF
grazing or browsing. can be kept in condi-
ton. In addition to the economy in forage.
the use of cameIs saves the outlay Tor wagons
and carts harness.. shoes. and the necessary
repairs of them. The pack saddle being so
simple in its construction as to I've readily
made on tho plantations. its cost will be but
trifiing. Its weight, moreover, compared
with that of a wagon or cart, increases the
physical energy devoted to the transportation
Of goods For short distances, say about a
plantation, or for six eight miles on the
road strong camel will carry, on an aver
age from eight hundred to one thousand
pounds. The Tiulus Of Asia Minor, the pro-
duce of the double-bumped Bactrian male on
the single-humped Arabian female, will aver
age. for the same distance, from one thousand
TO fifteen hundred pounds. All of the state
ments in my official report. of what was done
by the camels under my direction in Texas.
are made from accurate weights and closely
computed distances.
So far the general advantages from using
carpels NAV be summed up as follows:
They viii flourish as well in the z. States
as either horses or mules.
They may be introduced at Mobile or Pen
sacOla at rates not greater-certainly not
much greater-than present prices for good
mules.
They are not so expensive as horses or
mules. 1~t
They require no close stable or grooming.
They are as tough and as hardy as either
horse or mule.
They save heavy ontlay for wagons,
carts. harness. and shoes, and constant tax
for their repairs.
Their physical energy is not largely drawn
upon for the draught of wagon or cart. and,
Therefore, is proportionateiy given more use
fully to the transportation of goods.
They viii do more work at the same cost
and keeping than either horse or mule.
These are the general advantages that j
think may be fairly claimed for the camel.
Now let US examine how far this animal,
with their advantages, may be suited for our
plantation or farm uses.
In Egypt have seen the camel used in
cities and in the country, on plantations. in
fields and on the road. for every purpose that
horses and mules are used with US. / have
seen them transporting bricks and broken
stone from yards and quarries for buildings,
sleepers. rafters, scantling, boards for floor
ing. &c. / have seen them carrying chopped
straw, corn, cotton. fodder, merchandise of
ell kinds, men. women and children. and
with their burdens stepping intelligently and
with sure footedness into and ont of clumsy
ferry boats. And | have seen them usefully
occupied in carrying burdens on the dams and
check banks Of rice plantations. Is there
anything more or less than these uses that
our plantations and farms require?
The camel has been known to thrive and
he useful between Is and 50 deg north lati-
tude; the mean tenn perature of which region
may be rated at from so to 68 degrees. The
cost of a good serviceable camel, landed at
Mobile or Pensacola, will he from $50 to
$500. The animal is much less troublesome
at sea than the horse-a hundred camels eau
sing less anxiety than ten horses.