The Arizona sentinel., 1877-03-24
Ghe Carnels Again.

The camel pack train. which has been camped on the California side of the rlytr below Fort Yuma, was brought across u,l Friday Inst fo, pasturage nn the Gila. In getting theln over shS ferry and in arrang- ing their pack saddles &c., they were put shrnnQh all their evOlutioDs uf kaeelinq down Sc, aUd attracted much attention. The owners had lost two of them un the California side of the river, and while looking for them had hept the rest of the herd jed up four days Withnut feed, hence they looked somewhat gHunt. We have been asked to publish some information about camels and give all we have been able to cnll from the limited sources with in reach. A gentleman asDs:who has seen thousands ot them in Northern Africa says that the gtOWTe ones of this lot average much larger Tn size than those he saw there, and are covered with more and longer bar. Another one, who was far meriy engaged with theee camels in Cali tOrnIa, say that the oldest of them can moi be over ten years old now, the origina! ones having dled utf and all the others having been born ill this country, rh. American Cyclopaedia divides the camel into two species the Bactrian caluel, which has two humps and is the camel proper, and the one bumped ,or dr0mednry
 A cross between the TWO produces one bumped hybrid of greater value for pack
 ing, aad. bearing the same relation To the camel that a mule does tn the horse Our iot comprises both kinds. The hump Is simply tnass of gelatinOus fat. which le accumulated while the animal has plenty of nutritious food, and which is absorbed 10 sustain hlS system when deprived Ot forage. This enables hun to travel plan, days without food, and, with his bsIng erovidedwlth an extra stomach for carry Ing supply Ot water, well adapts him tOr long desert marches. lie Is united for Violent exertIOn or for draught, though catnes have been worked in harness. Ills gait Is long pace, both legs on the sane side being mUveG forward at once. The pack camel takes a load from 4UU to 9UU pOunds, from Ia To 30 miles Ill day of $ ! or lO hours, ana on emergency Is said To be able to keep thls up tor 6U consecutive hours without food or drink. The saddle animal makes about fifty mics in day ol iU hours, and eau De pushed to oO or 9U for d few days on level country. A trip of o3O miles. made by a drolnedaEy Ill hve days Is spoken oi as an instance of great speed and endurance. Camels dislike extreme heat as they do intense cold, and can no endure 1t as we'll as horses, under the same amount ot eAtrtlon popular opinion to LHe cUuti ary Is erroneous. A singular characteristic of camels Is the foot, wnHii Is large, flat and spoEsy. On thls the camei steps Over stones as nosclessly as q cat. It wears we'll on loose, sandy soils, but glves out after few days of trnve
 over rocky ground, particularly if thls Dc mountainous. The teeth are large and strong, well suited for chewing brush, anC are formidable weapons. Que of the bruJe'
 ere has tU be nuzzed, when not ieeding
 to keep him from klilIDg or castrnting soIn'
 of the youger males. While standing II ]. the street. here he performed siugula
 trick. ThrDwing his head up he initiates
 some of the membranes of his mouth untl there protruded ,rnn his lips, and betw-e'