Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-07-22
Loading the Camel.
Reealla Vistes - Hts Behavior in esrik :.
tag Ceasrass 60 she Eaephasss.

Pee.lssviss~s - HI. Densvier in ssrik.
tsg Csssrsss 90 she Eaephass's.
ain india" said gentleman who had re-
Gently returned to this country after an alb
sence Of many years in the east, ''the camel
is used fully as much as beast Of burden
as the elephant. He is not so powerful as
the elephant, but he can carry an enormous
load on his back He does not do so will
lingly. however, and is by no means the pa
tent, docile servant that the ephant soon
becomes under proper training. When |
first went TO India as young man | was
connected with mercantile firm in the
northwest provinces, and while there had
abundant opportunities for studying the
camel. for means OF carriage in that part Of
the country in those days was confined to
elephants ,eamels. bullocks and men, Horse
were not used as beasts Of burden. Every
day camels and elephants were driven up to
our Office door and loaded with wine and
beer cases for far away customers. The ele-
phant would 90 clumsily down on his great
knees and allow himself to be loaded with
out an indication Of discomfort. have no
doubt that he would have permitted himself
to be loaded until he was crushed to the
earth beneath the weight OF his load. had
his driver seen fit to pile on the boxes. But
the camels receiving their burdens was a
spectacle never to be forgotten. They new
er varied in their behavior. and every one
that ever saw loaded. and | have seen
thousands, acted in precisely the same man
ncr.
The camel, when he is not eating or drink
ing or being loaded, is invariably chewing
the cud. His long. crooked Jaw is in per
petual motion. and when he is told to lie
down TO receive his burden he does so with
out varying this lncessant masticatory pro-
cess. He arkwardly bends his knees, drags
his hind legs under him. and comes TO the
ground with curious Kind Of aop All
tins time his long melancholy face shows not
the slightest indication that he knows what
he is lying down for. and this uamistak able
hypocrisy. think. stamps the camel as an
animal of a very high order Of intellect
But in few seconds the expression on the
eamefs face shows a striking alteration. As
he secs the driver approaching him with a
box on his shoulder. he seems at last to un-
derstand the indigni,y and torture to which
he is about to he submitted. and the as
tonlshment, NIrtuous indignation aud dismay
of the ill-used animals counteuance ought
certainly TO make some impression on the
stony heart Of the driver. They never have
the slightest effect. The man binds the first
box on the wretched animals back. and goes
away to get another. Then the camel, wisely
abandoning his efforts To move man 10 com
passion. points his hairy nose upward, and
how, his wrongs to the skies
Never IN circus pantOmime or show have
| seen anything half so ludicrous as the
cameIs appearance at that moment. His
upper lip is curled back from the teeth, his
under lip doubles up and drops down, as
though he had no further use for it, his
great mouth opens so wide that one can see
about half ward down his throat. and out
o. the cavern thus revealed comes a series
Of the most astonishing howls that ever
startled the alr-howls Of such abject misery
that Il is difficult 10 avoid the conclusion that
the cameFs heart is breaking and this i'm
preston IS strengthened by the tears that
flow coplously down the wailing ANIMALS
elongated cheeks 10 drip from the end Of
has nose. In the Htterance Of each note Of
woe the camel seems to be exertlng the ut
most power Of his lungs, but he is all the
time holding a large force in reserve. and as
the driver adds box after box 10 the pile on
his back. howl more resonant and heart
rending than the last testifes to each addi-
ton to the creatures misery and never, ex-
cept when he is absolutely engaged in trum-
petlng his agonies into space, are the great
watery eyes Of the camel removed from the
person of his prosecutor they follow him
wherever he goes, and express through their
tears contempt, Indignation, astonishment
and dismay. think il must have been this
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