Straight-out democrat. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1878-1879, 1878-06-28
Tie Camel.

Tie Camel.
All my readers know that the great
value OF the camel lies in it's ability to
pass long interval OF time without re-
curing to drink. The camel does not.
indeed, need q less amount of liquid
than other animals, for in this point it
Is ousdone by many South African ante
looPes, which are never known to drink at
al; but it has curious power of taking
IN at one time an amount of liquid which
will serve it for several days.
The internal mechanism by which
this power is attained is very remarks
Ole, 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
death of the animal. A slight greenish
hue is communicated to the water. but
with that exception it is clear. In one
remarkable instance, after q camel had
been dead ten days, the water in it's
stomaeh was -drinkable and tasteles&.
When first taken from the dead animal.
rather unpleasant flavor is perceptibla
but this vanishes, together with the
green color, after the water has stood
undisturbed for three days2
The quantity of water taken at one
time is almost Incredible, moro than
twenty gallons being sometimes con-
sumed at single draught. The animal
drinks with great rapidity, and the wa.
ter disappears 80 fast that it seems to
vanish by magic. Its.desire for water is
so great that it can perceive the vel
come fluid at great distance, possibly
by scent, and possibly by some instinct
which is not shared BY man. When the
camels perceive water, nothing can hold
them back from it. and a whole caravan
will break away from their drivers, rush
ing tumultuously to the water. This
wonderful power is of the greatest value
to the inhabitants Of the desert, who
would have known nothing of many a
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 herbage
with which it may chance to meet. The
withered and dried leaves and twigs
whlch snap at touch, and seem to be
utterly devoid OF nutriment, are all de-
vOuAou OJ tAo CfauoIS ho AlSO are Inc
branches of the thorn, bushes which
would bafHs any being but camel.
This animal, however, has the roof of
Its mouth defended by hard cartilage,
and can eat the priokly banquet without
the least difficulty. It would thrive on
the chips and shavings of q carpenters
shop, and has actually been fed on char
coal. So abstemious, indeed. is the an
NAL, that camels have been known to
traverse nearly q thousand miles within
twenty days, having no food but that
which they gathered for themselves on
tho journey.
It has yet another advantage; namely,
the wonderful adaptation of ite limbs to
the desert country in which it lives. It's
height enables it to carry its own head
end that of its rider at considerable
distance from the ground, so that both
are sheltered from the heat that
radiates from the burning soil. More
over. each little breeze takes full effect
at such height, and in that climate the
least breath Of air becomes luxury.
Golden Hours.
4 Hama SsRrnnA,S ~ no~.