The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-28
HABITS AND HAUNTs OF THE
CAMEL.

Extraordinary errors are still in circulation re-
Epecting the character, and even the structure of
the camel, notwithstanding 1t has been the com
panion of man from the earliest ages of his exist
ence. The large, heavy, numbering animal tha!
bears burdens is supposed to constitute a species
apart from the light and agile dromedary, which.
in the language Of the Chinese, possesses feet Of
wind, and in traversing the desert often performs
journeys of from ninety 10 a hundred miles day
This was proved on a remarkable occasion in
Egypt. The PGcha, on his way to the Hajaz,
having learned at SueE that n mutiny had broken
out among the troops in Cairo, turned westward
the head of his dromedary, and In less than
eight hours cleared the ninety miles of desert
and appeared suddenly among the rebels,
who were instantly awed into submission by
his daring presence. A few heads however
were struck OFF by way OF preoaution. after
which His Highness resumed his pigrimago
towards the Holy City. Any one who contem-
plates the sumpter animal of the trading cara.
vars, shufiliDg along the sandy tracts OF the
desert at the rate of two miles and half an
hour, with twelve hundred weight of merchan-
disc on his back, may be easily pardoned for
coming TO the conclusion that this drowsy beast
must be Of different species from the bold and
feet creature which, on the plains of Northern
India, moves nc the rate Of eighteen miles an
hour, with light piece Of artillery at his heels.
Yet there is no more difference between the
sumpter camel and the fleet dromedary than be-
tween the dTay-borse and Childers' steed, which
flew over the turf at Newmarket at the rate of
mile minute. The speed and ightness Of the
drOmedary originate In accident, and are de-
PelOped by training and education; but the sad
die animal will e. oss with the beast of burden,
and produce new variety, more useful in many
respects Than either parent.
Still il seems necessary 90 admit that the B le-
trian camel, with two lunches, which traverses
the wds and vast elevated plaleaux OF Central
Asia, differs specifically from the Arabian camel
with one hunch. OF these we have sometimes
beheld q string, exceeding thousand In number,
intermingled with dromedarles the latter
mounted, the former laden-tied TO each other,
and proceeding in single file AthWart the wastes
of Lydia towards the Black Countries. The march
In such cases seems tedious, and would really be
so TO an impatient traveller, but to persons who,
like the Arab merchants, pass the greater part of
sloUnees OF profession is no more irksome
than the ordinary course Of business TO man
in the city. They know by experience how
far they can advance 10 q day in what places
they shall find water, date palms, and coarse
pastursge for their beasts, and creep from sta
tion 10 station without the least excitement or
tmpatience. The small incidents Of the way
suffice 10 amuse them, though occasionally they
are OF such nature as 70 put their manhood 10
tne proof and violently stimulate their crcua-
non. lion, perhaps, In search Of a meal starts
UP iIom amid the sand-hills, or emerges from an
~. aLhoneea ravine and bounds fearlessly towards
VIC 44iassni resolved 10 crafty his appetite or
perlsh-noihinE eeares him or arrests his nro
E1ees-oestsm6 E both dromedary and rider he
2PLhbs win roar towards his prev and in
spite on spears ana the contents Of rifles often
susceeos ~ oin6.ls 70 the ground the indi-
Bnf soldier or trader, the Arab b ivs~s hrsSs
and never deserts = freud In nee3 VIII
such weapons as are at hand, therefore the
Enpgchants, rush upon thar assailRnts, 1rnT.