New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-06-26
Camel,

All my readers know that the great
value Of the camel lies in its ability to
pass long interval of time without re.
quiring to drink. The camel does not,
indeed, need less amount LIQUID than
other animals, for in this point it is out
done by many South African antelopes,
which are never known to drink at all;
but has curious power of takingin at
one time an amount of liquid which will
serve it for several days. @
The internal machenism by which this
power is attained is very remarkable, but
is much too complicated to be described
without the use of diagrams. Suffice it
to say that the water Is slowed away in
series of cells, which appear to have the
property of preserving it in fresh and
clear state even after the death of the
animal. A slight greenish hue is COM
inundated to the Water, but with that ex-
ception it is clear. In one remarkable
instance, after camel had been dead ten
days, the water in his stomach was drink
able and tasteless. When first taken from
the dead animal a rather unpleasant flavor
is'perccptible, but this vanishes, ogether
with the green color, after the water has
stood undisturbed for three days?
The quantity of water taken at one
time is almost incredible, more than
twenty gallons being sometimes consumed
at single draught. The animal drinks
with great rapidity, and the water disap-
pears SO fast that it seems to vanish by
magic. Its desire for water is so great
that it can perceive the welcome fluid at
great distance, possibly by scent, and
possibly by some instinct which is not
shared by man. When the camels per
ceive water, nothing can hold them back
from it, and a whole caravan will break
away from their drivers, rushing tumul.
tuously to the water This wonderful
power is of the greatest value to the in
habitants of the desert, who would have
known nothing of many spring had not
their camels directed them towards the
water
Another reason for its value is its abil-
ity to eat and digest substances that no
other animal would touch. It does not
stop to eat on its journey, but lowers its
long neck and crops the scanty heritage
with winch it may chance to meet.
The withered and dried leaves and
twigs which snap at a touch, and seem to
be utterly devoid of nutriment, are all de-
voured by the camel, as also are the
branches Of the thorn, bushes which
battle any being but a camel. This ami
NAL, however. has the roof of its mouth
defended by a hard cartilage, and can
eat the prickly banquet without the least
difficulty. It would thrive on the chips
and shavings Of a carpenters shop, and
has actually been fed on charcoal. So
abstemious, indeed is the animal, that
camels have been known to traverse near
ly thousand miles within twenty DAYS,
having no food but that which they
gathered for themselves on the journey.
It has yet another advantage; namely,
the wonderful adaptation Of its limbs to
the desert country in which it lives. Its
height enables it to carry its own head
and that Of its rider at considerable
distance from the ground, so tha5 both
are sheltered from the heat that radiates
from the burning SOIL Moreover, each
little breeze takes full effect at such g
height, and in that climate the least
breath Of air becomes a luxury. 80